Tameka Blue Leads Toros to Season-Opening Victory Over Cal Baptist, 72-67
Reigning CCAA Freshman of the Year scores team-high 17 points in win
November 25, 2003

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills used sophomore Tameka Blue's (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) team-high 17 points and a 64.3% to 28.6% second-half shooting advantage to win its season-opener over Cal Baptist on Tuesday night at the Torodome, 72-67.

CSUDH begins the season at 1-0, while CBU drops to 2-2.

The visitors jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the game's opening minutes, but a Crystal Maciel (Los Angeles, CA/Los Angeles CC) jumper and four free throws by Monique Marquez (Rialto, CA/Eisenhower HS) and Blue knotted the contest at 8-8.

CBU would outscore the Toros 14-5 over the next seven minutes to take control of the contest, but a three-point play by freshman Natasha Gray (Long Beach, CA/LB Poly HS) would begin the Toro comeback. A Blue jumper and two Keesha Aldridge (Aiea, HI/Aiea HS) free throws would cut deeper into the deficit, and an Aldridge conversion from the charity stripe with :40 remaining would send the Toros into the locker room trailing by only five, 33-28.

After intermission, CSUDH would continue to press, eventually tying the game at 37-37 with six minutes elapsed in the half. The visiting Lancers would keep the pressure on by converting their first 11 points of the second half at the charity stripe, but the Toros, led by junior Octavia Askew's (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham HS) 13 points after intermission, would claim their first lead of the contest with 9:14 remaining in the game, using an Askew three-point play to break a 44-44 tie and give CSUDH a 47-44 lead.

Blue bolstered the lead with one of her three three-pointers in the contest, and a Gray layup with 2:11 left gave the Toros a comfortable 68-61 lead. The Lancers would continue their attempts at dictating the pace, finishing the second half making 21-of-22 free throws, but an Askew three-ball, a Zipporah Chase (Los Angeles, CA/Carson HS) steal and subsequent Askew free throw increased the margin to 72-65, all but sealing the victory. Two free throws by CBU's Tera Cruz would provide the final scoring as the Toros emerged victorious to kick off the new season.

CSUDH's Askew finished with 15 points while Gray tallied 11 in her first collegiate game, giving the Toros three scorers in double figures.

Blue added game-high totals of six assists and five steals to her statline, while Chase pulled down a team-high seven boards in 21 minutes of action.

CBU's Amy Sim tallied game-high honors with 18 points and 10 rebounds, garnering the game's sole double-double, while Cruz chipped in 13 points, 10 coming from the charity stripe.

The Toros' defense was solid, tallying 17 steals on the night while forcing 34 Lancer turnovers.

Cal State Dominguez Hills next hosts Biola in nonconference action on Saturday, November 29. Tipoff is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.