Toros Women Can't Hold Halftime Lead, Lose to Chico State 67-49
February 2, 2002

Complete Box Score

The Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team was looking to end their longest losing streak of the season tonight. The Toros have lost five straight games and tonight they were looking to pick up a win over Chico State. After a surge in the closing minutes of the first half, the Toros squeaked out a 27-26 halftime lead, but they could not hold on and dropped the contest 67-49.

The first half looked all Chico State, as the Wildcats scored the first six points in the first half. In fact, the Toros were held scoreless until junior post Muñeca Bush put one in, to put CSUDH on the board. The Wildcats led the entire first half, and enjoyed their largest lead of the half with 6:52 remaining when they were ahead by eight. After that mark, however the Toros picked up their game, going on a 19-10 run.

The Toro defense held the Wildcats scoreless in the last three minutes of play, while CSUDH's offense went to work, pouring in seven. Bush continued to be strong in the entire first 20, scoring a team-leading nine points. Bush was four of six from the field in the first, and collected six boards.

Chico was led in the first 20 by Kara Scheitlin, who led all players with 12 points.

The second half was a different story. The Wildcats picked up their shooting, connecting on 44% of their shots. They also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Toros 23-15. Chico was able to put in six second chance points, while the Toros were only able to add one.

There were three lead changes in the second half, with the Wildcats taking what would be the winning lead of 21 with 2:21 remaining. The second half was also a story of sloppy ball control. The Toros gave the ball up 15 times in the half, while the Wildcats were stripped 12 times. The advantage went to Chico State though, who was able to convert 11 points off those turnovers, compared to the Toros who could only add four.

Adriana Mendez came on strong for the Toros in the second. After being held to four in the first half, the forward stepped up and scored a team-leading seven in the second. Tracee Lewis, who scored five points for the Toros in the first half, was unable to score in the second, finishing with five on the night.

For Chico State Smilie Glenn poured in eight second half points, while Scheitlin added 11. The Wildcats were led on the night by Scheitlin who scored a game-high 23 points, with Glenn adding 10. Chico State collected 44 boards, two more than the Toros.

The Toros were led by Bush, who tallied 13 points, and pulled down nine boards. Mendez added 11, to round out the top CSUDH scorers.

CSUDH fell to 5-13 on the season and 3-11 in CCAA action. They will host Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino in CCAA action next weekend.