FULLERTON, Calif. - Â In the last game of the 2023 calendar year, the Cal State Fullerton Titans women's basketball team lost 59-49 against the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine.
The Titans (5-7, 1-1 BWC) have lost nine straight games to the Rainbow Wahine (4-6, 1-0 BWC).
Fujika Nimmo led all scorers in the game with 17 points. Â
Ashlee Lewis had her first double-double of the season after scoring 11 points and racking up 14 rebounds. Â Hope Hasmann added 9 points after shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and
Gabi Vidmar added 8 points.
Neither side shot well in the game with Hawaii shooting 37.3% from the floor and the Titans shooting 33.9% from the field. Â The Rainbow Wahine were 8-for-20 from the three point line while the Titans were 7-for-25. Â Hawaii outrebounded the Titans 42-to-33 for the game. Â Nearly all the Titans offense came from the starting lineup as they scored 45 of the 49 points. Â Hawaii got 25 points off the bench. Â The Rainbow Wahine converted their 9 steals to pick up 13 points off Titan turnovers. While the Titans only scored two points off a turnover.
Both sides were sluggish to start the game as the Titans picked up the first basket on an
Ashlee Lewis layup.
Hawaii wouldn't get their first basket until 5:46 left in the first quarter but they scored in bursts as they knocked down two three pointers and stole two balls in the back court that led to easy layups. Hawaii went on a 13-0 run after being down 4-0 before the Titans finally got a basket from
Aixchel Hernandez to make it a 13-6 game.
The Rainbow Wahine went on a 9-2 run to open up the second quarter to stretch their lead to 22-to-8 before
Fujika Nimmo hit her first three of the game before the media timeout to make it 22-11.
Hawaii stretched their lead to 14 points at 31-17 with 2:04 left in the first half. Â
Fujika Nimmo was able to connect with
Ashlee Lewis on a pick-and-roll for the Titans last bucket of the period as they were outscored 20-to-13 for the quarter.
The Titans played their basketball of the game in the third quarter as they outscored the Rainbow Wahine 23-to-14 for the period. Â
Fujika Nimmo made three straight three-pointers along with Gavi Vidmar making a free-throw to cut the lead to 33-29 with 6:53 left in the third quarter.
The Titans pulled within two points after
Hope Hassmann grabbed an offensive board and made a jumper to make it a 35-33 game.
 However, the Titans were able to tie the game up as close they got.  The Titans pulled to within three points at 41-38 after
Hope Hassmann nailed a three-pointer and were within one possession again after
Gabi Vidmar made two free throws to make it a 42-40 game.
However, Hawaii scored five points before the period ended to take a 47-42 lead into the final quarter.
After playing their best basketball during the third period, the Titans momentum had faded away in the fourth quarter. Â The Titans committed four turnovers and missed two shots to start the period. Â Still, the game was there for the taking as Hawaii had only scored three points during the first five minutes of the quarter to make it a 50-42 game as they headed to the media timeout. The Titans missed two more three pointers before finally scoring their first basket of the quarter with 3:08 left in the game to make it a 54-44 game. The Titans got a couple late consolation baskets toward the final minutes of the game but it was well out of reach after shooting 3-for-14 during the final frame.
The Titans will remain at home as they take on the UC Irvine Anteaters on Thursday, January 4th. Tip-off is set for 7 PM. The Anteaters are 2-0 to start conference play after defeating UC Riverside 67-52 on Thursday and Cal State Bakersfield 71-48 on Saturday. NOTES:
Kathryn Neff played in her 100th game for the Titans during Saturday's match against the University of Hawaii.
