TIP-OFF
The Titans look to snap their five-game losing streak as they head to Montana to take on Coach Park's alma mater, Montana State on Thursday night before heading to the University of Montana on Sunday afternoon.
WATCH IT LIVE
There will be a live video feed available for Cal State Fullerton's games at Montana State. To access video for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "video" link to watch through msubobcats.com on Thursday.
LISTEN LIVE
There will be live audio streaming available for Cal State Fullerton's games at Montana STate. To access audio for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "audio" link.
LIVE STATS
There will be live stats available for Cal State Fullerton's games at Montana State. To access live stats for the games visit www.fullertontitans.com, click the women's basketball schedule page then click the "live stats" link.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), Instagram (WBB_Titans) and YouTube.com (YouTube.com/csfathletics). In addition, the women's basketball team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/WBBTitans) and Twitter pages (@WBBTitans).
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Cal State Fullerton (2-5) at Montana St. (4-2)
Overall series record: 2-2
Home Record: 1-1
Away Record: 0-1
Neutral Site Record: 1-0
HEAD TO HEAD: Last year was the first time head coach Daron Park faced his alma mater in which they dropped the contest 47-63 in Titan Gym. The Bobcats are currently on a two-game winning streak against the Titans.
Cal State Fullerton (2-5) at Montana (4-2)
Overall Record: 0-4
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-4
Neutral Site Record: 0-0
HEAD TO HEAD: This will be the first time the two teams have met in the 21st century, having their last meeting in 1998. The Titans have yet to defeat the Grizzlies in their four meetings thus far.
BREAKING DOWN THE BOBCATS
Head coach Tricia Binford returns nine letter winners and three starters from the 2014-15 squad that went 15-15 overall. The Bobcats host Fullerton boasting a 4-2 record, coming off of a 1-1 weekend at the Cal Poly Holiday Classic, beating Evansville and losing to Cal Poly 57-66.
The Bobcats are led by junior guard Peyton Ferris who has averaged 13.2 ppg off the bench, while Jasmine Hommes and Riley Nordgaard have averaged 12.3 and 10.7 ppg respectively.
BREAKING DOWN THE GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies return two starters to the floor this season and seven letter winners from a 2014-15 team that won the Big Sky Conference with a 24-9 overall record. The 2014-15 squad received a number 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
This season, the Grizzlies are led by their two returning starters, Kayleigh Valley and McCalle Feller who are averaging 15.5 and 14.3 ppg respectively, while Alycia Sims is averaging 11.2 rebounds per game.
GABRIEL POSTING NUMBERS
Transfer center Karima Gabriel led the Titans in the post this past week, totaling 38 points, 17 boards and 4 blocks in the teams' three games. The 6-2 senior was 12-14 from the free throw line and made her first two three-pointers of the season.
BERRY LEADING BOTH SIDES
Freshman Michelle Berry leads the Titans both offensively and defensively, averaging 15.3 ppg while also leading in rebounds with 8.4 rpg. The freshman has totaled 107 points in the first seven games, and has logged the second-most rebounds in the conference with 59.
SNAP THE STREAK!
The Titans are currently riding a five-game losing streak, matching last season's longest losing streak when they lost five straight during Big West play.
The next longest streak took place in the 2012-2013 season when the Titans lost nine straight.
FRESHMAN TAKE OVER
The Titan freshman trio of Jade Vega, Dani Craig and Michelle Berry have started all seven games so far this season, and all three are averaging double-digit points per game. Berry currently leads the Titans in ppg and rpg while Craig leads the Titans at the free throw line, sitting at 13-13 on the season. Vega has also chipped in offensively, averaging 10 ppg and lead in the Titans in both steals and assists on the year.
STEADY SAMI
Junior Sami Logan is the most experienced Titan on the roster, and it's been showing on the court. The junior veteran has been consistent defensively, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game while leading four new faces on the floor.
SETTING RECORDS
Freshman Michelle Berry set a program record by scoring the most points by a freshman in history after posting 38 against Portland State. The performance earned her the first Big West Athlete of the Week honors, which also is the first time a Titan freshman has earned the accolades.
CONFERENCE CALL
Cal State Fullerton is 18-23 all-time against the Big Sky Conference.
THE PARK ERA CONTINUES
In his second season at the helm of the Titans, Park led them to the program's fourth Big West Conference Tournament semi final in the last nine years while producing Big West Conference First Team selection, Chante Miles. The Titans finished with an overall record of 13-19 and a Big West Conference record of 5-11. The Cal State Fullerton women's basketball team worked their way into the record books on various occasions, setting records in fewest points allowed in a half, most three-point field goals made in a game, most three-point field goals made in a season, and most three-point field goals attempted in a season.
Park is the first male head coach in Cal State Fullerton women's basketball history and recorded his first win as the head coach of the Titans on Nov. 22, 2013 versus Columbia.
A NEW FACE ON THE BENCH
Prior to joining the Titans' staff as the associate head coach, Karen Middleton spent six seasons at the helm of the Western Carolina women's basketball program, leading the Catamounts to a semi-final appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament in 2014.
Before her stint at Western Carolina, Middleton was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern Washington University (1994-97), was an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina (1992-94), spent two years as an assistant at the University of Illinois (2007-2009), and was an assistant coach at Stanford University for ten years (1997-2007).
TITANS SEVENTH IN BIG WEST POLL
The Big West Preseason Media Poll was released on Oct. 27 with the Titans picked to finish seventh during the 2015-16 season. After posting 23 wins and claiming the 2014-15 regular season crown, Hawai'i was deemed the favorite with 13 first place votes. Checking in right behind Hawai'i was UC Riverside in second, earning 2 first place votes followed shortly behind by Cal Poly. CSUN, the two-time defending Tournament champion rolled in at fourth place, while Long Beach State, UC Davis, Fullerton, Irvine and Santa Barbara rounded out the poll.
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Cal State Fullerton's 2015-16 schedule slates many competitive games, including games against teams that found themselves in the post-season last year.
"Our goal is to hopefully challenge our team appropriately in the non-conference to ultimately prepare us for the difficult Big West Conference schedule," Park said. "To have a early stretch of 5 out of 6 conference games on the road is a tough challenge for even the most experienced teams so it will be important for us to prepare accordingly and be ready to compete every time we step on the court."
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Titans welcome eight new faces to the squad for the 2015-16 season. Here is more on the transfers and true freshmen ready to make an immediate impact this season:
Iman Lathan • G • 5-9 • University of Nevada
Played two seasons at the University of Nevada… Academic All-Mountain West honoree ... appeared in 20 games for Nevada during her rookie season ... logged 82 minutes of playing time, averaging 4.1 minutes per game ... totaled 34 points in her 20 games, 1.7 points per game average ... grabbed 17 rebounds, dished out five assists and collected six steals ... shot 49 percent (16-of-33) as a freshman from the field, going 2-for-7 from the free throw line ... scored a season-best eight points during an overtime win at Air Force (2/1), on perfect 4-of-4 shooting ... posted season-high four rebounds during the second game of the season versus Long Beach State (11/15) where she also scored four points and registered her first career assist ... scored at least two points in 11 games ... recorded her first collegiate point, rebound and steal in the season opener at Utah Valley (11/8) ... played a season-best nine minutes in three separate contests, Long Beach State (11/15), San Jose State (1/1) and at Air Force (2/1)
Michelle Berry • G • 6-2 • Miami Country Day HS • Miami, Fla.
A 2015 graduate and a two-year basketball letter winner for the Spartans… Also played varsity soccer where she was named First Team all league…. In her junior year she averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds per game… Her senior season she averaged 14 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Dani Craig • G • 5-8 • Iowa City West HS • Coralville, Iowa
Played four years on the varsity squad for head coach BJ Mayer… As a senior she was named First Team All Mississippi Valley League honors while slating her name in the record books in assists with 121 and three-pointers with 51… She was a part of the Trojans squad as a freshman when they played in the State Championship… Dani was also a part of the National Honor Society and played varsity soccer as well.
Madison Crawford • G • 5-8 • Fossil Ridge HS • Fort Worth, Texas
Was a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team under head coach Stacey Henson… Was named to the All-District Second team in her freshman and sophomore seasons before being named to the All-District First team her junior and senior campaigns…. Was named the Offensive Player of the Year three times in her career while being named team MVP her junior season when she averaged 13 points and had a career high 30 point game.
Karima Gabriel • C • 6-2 • Boston College • Manchester, N.H.
At Boston College Karima played in 29 games, started 10 ... Averaged 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 15.9 minutes per game ... Scored in double-figures in five games .... Had a career-high 12 rebounds vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 11 ... Had a season-high 14 points vs. Pitt on Jan. 24 ... Finished the season with 45 blocks, most by a BC player since the 2010-11 season ... Led the team in rebounding in six games and in blocks 11 times. At DePaul as a freshman she played in 18 games for DePaul University...Averaged 4.2 minutes and 1.1 rebounds a game...DePaul advanced to the NCAA Tournament and lost to Tennessee in the 2nd round.
Jordan Jackson • G • 5-8 • Central Florida • Pasadena, Calif.
Played two seasons at University of Central Florida… As a Sophomore in 2014-15 she appeared in 21 games, averaging 1.2 points in 6.4 minutes per game…Provided a boost off the bench in UCF's win over Jacksonville, recording 6 points, 3 rebounds in 10 minutes, including a buzzer-beating jumper before halftime… Clocked season-high 16 minutes in conference-opening win at Houston, tallying 2 points and 2 rebounds… Shattered career-high with 8 rebounds against Memphis (2/18)
Lauren Nubla • G • 5-5 • C.K. McClatchy HS • Sacramento, Calif.
Played four years on the varsity squad for head coach Jessica Kunisaki… named Second Team All Metro League in her sophomore and junior seasons… During her senior year she led the McClatchy Lions to the CIF Division I Championship title while earning First Team All Metro League honors…. Was also named Athlete of the Year and won the CIF sportsmanship award her senior year with 246 points and 14 three-pointers as a senior.
Jade Vega • G • 5-5 • Cardinal Spellman HS • Bronx, N.Y.
Played three years of varsity basketball under head coach Jane Morris… while playing for the Pilots, she led them to their second straight CHSAA championship…. earned Daily News Player of the year and was named to the Daily News First and Second teams throughout her career… Was named Bronx Player of the year and was named to the All Bronx First Team.
