Blankenship Enjoys Career Day as Toros Women Notch First Win of Season in 63-51 Defeat of San Francisco State
True freshman scores game-high 25 points on 65% shooting from field
December 3, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills true freshman Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS) had her coming out party at the expense of San Francisco State Friday night, tallying a game-high 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting and eight boards as the Toros bested the visiting Gators, 63-51.

With the victory, the Toros’ first of the season, CSUDH improves to 1-2, 1-0 CCAA, while SFSU falls to 1-4, 0-1 CCAA.

The Gators took a quick 4-0 lead on consecutive jumpers by Bianca Rayford in the game’s opening minute. Led by Blankenship's nine points in the first 20 minutes of play, however, the Toros clawed back quickly, knotting the game at 4-4 with 16:10 left in the first half. After SFSU took a three-point lead on a Marissa Meadows three-pointer, the Toros would go on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes to take control of the contest.

Karen Shirley (San Diego, CA/Morse HS/Arizona Western College) added seven points in the frame, including the last two points in that run to push the CSUDH lead to 23-11 with 6:33 left in the period. The Gators would crawl back into the contest and cut the lead to 28-20 on a Rayford jumper, but Blankenship answered with 48 seconds remaining to give the Toros a 30-20 halftime edge.

After intermission, Blankenship continued her hot hand. The Palmdale native would net 16 points in the final 20 minutes, including two of her three 3-pointers in the contest. The Toros would boost their lead to 44-29 on a Shirley jumper, and keep the visitors at a double-digit deficit the rest of the way.

Two free throws at the 4:04 mark by redshirt freshman Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS) gave the Toros their biggest advantage at 57-41, and a bucket by Blankenship and four free throws by Tameka Blue (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) would seal the contest for CSUDH, giving the Toros their first win of the season. After a three-pointer by SFSU’s LuLue Burton cut the Toro lead to 61-51, Blue’s final two foul shots would account for the final scoring as CSUDH took the contest, 63-51.

CSUDH’s Shirley added 11 points in the win, while senior Octavia Askew (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham HS) chipped in with eight points and six boards. Blue was stellar at the line, sinking all six of her free throws, including four in the final minutes, to put the game away.

The Gators were led by Rayford, who scored 17 points, and Burton and Ashley Haggerty, who each chipped in with seven points in the loss. As a team, the Gators committed 11 more turnovers than the Toros, giving CSUDH numerous fast break advantages.

The Toros continue CCAA action tomorrow night as they host Sonoma State, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Torodome.