San Jose----After trailing by 11 points at halftime, the San Jose State women's basketball team used a 46-point second half to take a one-point lead with 42 seconds remaining in the game.  However, a three-point basket by Cal State Fullerton's Lauren Chow gave the Titans a 79-77 win over the Spartans Friday night in the team's opening game of the 2009-10 season.

The Spartans trailed 42-31 at halftime despite having a 29-23 lead with 4:42 remaining in the first half.  The Titans then scored 19 of the next 27 points before the intermission.

Cal State Fullerton increased its lead to 13, 46-33, on two Megan Richardson free throws just 1:30 into the second half.  Richardson was the game's high scorer with 29 points. San Jose State then chipped away at the lead, holding the Titans to just three points over the next seven minutes and tied the scored at 49-49 on a Samantha Marez jumper at 12:40.

The Titans then grabbed the lead back at 51-49 at the 11:45 mark and held it until Ashley Brown's jumper at 6:18 tied the score at 67-67.  The two teams then traded the lead six more times including the Spartans' final lead at 77-76 on a Sayja Sumler layup with 42 seconds left in regulation.

Then, an off-balance three-pointer by Chow on the Titans' next possession gave Cal State Fullerton the win.  The Spartans had two chances to score, but missed shots by Brown with three seconds and Sumler at the buzzer did not fall.

Three Spartans scored in double figures. Chasity Shavers scored a career high 21 points including 9-of-13 from the field.  Newcomer Britney Bradley scored 13 points including 7-of-8 from the free throw line and led the Spartans in rebounding with seven boards.  Samantha Marez, also making her Spartan debut, added 16 points on 8-of-12 from the field, and five rebounds. 

Brown dished out three assists and scored nine points, while Sumler added eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.  Shaunna Ridge also had six points, five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot.

"I cannot be prouder of these kids," said San Jose State head coach Pam DeCosta.  "It is great to get this first game under our belts and learn from this game.  They fought hard for 36 minutes, but (we) had a stretch in the first half where we fell apart.

"We played right with Fullerton in the second half and fought hard to close the halftime deficit (11 points).  We just need to be disciplined in our defense."

San Jose State continues at home next Tuesday, November 17, with a non-conference game against Pepperdine.  Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., at The Event Center.

CAL STATE FULLLERTON (1-0)

Richardson, Megan 9-16 8-9 29; Richie, Ashley 6-14 0-0 13; Grove, Lyndsey 3-8 5-5 12; Chow, Lauren 2-4 1-2 7; Williams, Jahne 2-3 1-2 5; Scott, Jasmine 1-9 2-4 4; Avila, Katie 1-1 2-2 4; Crisp, Alicya 1-4 1-2 3; Olivier, Mya 1-2 0-0 2; Breite, Jenna 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 20-26 79.

SAN JOSE STATE (0-1)

Shavers, Chasity 9-13 2-3 21; Marez, Samantha 8-12 0-0 16; Bradley, Britney 3-6 7-8 13; Brown, Ashley 4-7 1-2 9; Sumler, Sayja 3-9 2-4 8; Ridge, Shaunna 1-3 3-4 6; Eckberg, Alisha 1-3 0-0 3; Finnegan, Rachel 0-1 1-2 1; Keenan, Danielle 0-0 0-0 0; Hall, Marnesha 0-4 0-0 0; Atoe, Palagi 0-1 0-0 0; Broaden, Myesha 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 16-23 77.

Cal State Fulllerton..........   42   37  -   79

San Jose State................   31   46  -   77

3-point goals--Cal State Fulllerton 7-15 (Richardson, Megan 3-4; Chow, Lauren 2-4; Grove, Lyndsey 1-2; Richie, Ashley 1-2; Scott, Jasmine 0-3), San Jose State 3-8 (Ridge, Shaunna 1-3; Eckberg, Alisha 1-1; Shavers, Chasity 1-2; Sumler, Sayja 0-1; Hall, Marnesha 0-1). Fouled out--Cal State Fulllerton-None, San Jose State-Hall, Marnesha. Rebounds--Cal State Fulllerton 27 (Grove, Lyndsey 7), San Jose State 35 (Bradley, Britney 7). Assists--Cal State Fulllerton 11 (Chow, Lauren 4; Breite, Jenna 4), San Jose State 14 (Brown, Ashley 3). Total fouls--Cal State Fulllerton 21, San Jose State 24. Technical fouls--Cal State Fulllerton-None, San Jose State-None.  A-402.

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