Tameka Blue Leads CSUDH to Third-Consecutive Win of Season With 74-61 Win Over University of Alaska Fairbanks
Junior notches game-high totals of 20 points and six assists in victory
December 10, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Tameka Blue (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) drained a game-high 20 points to lead three Toros in double-figure scoring as the CSUDH won its third-consecutive game of the season, defeating visiting University of Alaska Fairbanks, 74-61.

Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Tameka Blue lit up the scoreboard for game-high 20 points in the win over Alaska Fairbanks. File photo

With the win, the Toros improve to 3-2, while the Nanooks fall to 3-5.

The Nanooks got off to a quick start, taking a 20-14 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. Behind true freshman Alana Bailey’s (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS) 5-for-5 shooting in the first 20-minute frame, however, the Toros would claw back to 28-27 with 0:23 left. The Nanooks’ Cody Burgess would answer the Toro run with a 3-pointer to close out the half, giving UAF a 31-27 lead heading into intermission.

The second half saw the Toro defense clamp down, holding the Nanooks scoreless until the 14:56 mark of the second half, scoring 12 points of their own in that stretch to claim a comfortable 39-31 lead. The two teams would exchange baskets until a Crystal Maciel (Los Angeles, CA/South Gate HS/Los Angeles CC) jumper at the 11:57 mark would give CSUDH its first double-digit advantage at 47-37. Ree Browne (Torrance, CA/South Torrance HS) would add two free throws to bump the cushion to 12 points, and the Toros would keep UAF at arm’s length the rest of the way.

Valerie Hartman’s 3-pointer would cut the Toro lead to 57-52 with 5:51 left in the game, but a Blue 3-pointer and a jumper by Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS) on consecutive possessions would push the advantage to 62-52, and CSUDH would not look back.

Four-consecutive Blue free throws in the game’s final minutes would bring the Toros to their largest lead at 74-58, after which a 3-pointer by UAF’s Marsha Schirack would close the scoring, giving CSUDH the victory at 74-61.

Blue also dished a game-high six assists and tied for game-high honors with seven boards while sinking 7-of-9 shots from the charity stripe. Bailey finished with 17 on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the floor, while Blankenship added 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the win.

UAF’s Cody Burgess poured in 17 points to lead the charge for the Nanooks, and was bolstered by Hartman’s 15 and Kari Reabold’s 10 points in the loss.

As a team, the Toros outshot the Nanooks 44.8% to 38.9% from the field, forcing 26 turnovers from the visitors compared to only 16 for the Toros.

CSUDH travels to Biola on Wednesday, December 15, before returning home to host Western New Mexico on Monday, December 20. First tip against the Mustangs is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Torodome.