COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Despite an Early Lead, Late Surge, Titan Women Fall to Oregon State

The Oregon State women’s basketball team held off a late Cal State Fullerton rally to defeat the Titans, 67-58, Saturday night in the championship game of the Titan Gatorade Classic in Titan Gym.

Trailing, 51-40, midway through the second half, Fullerton (1-1) ran off 10 consecutive points, the last two on Claudette Jackson’s driving basket, to cut the lead to 51-50 with 4:41 remaining.

The Titans had a chance to go ahead after the Beavers failed to score, but Jackson, who scored 20 points, missed a jumper. Oregon State forward Judy Shannon, who scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, then hit two jump shots, and Margo Evashevski converted a steal into a fast-break basket to put the Beavers up, 57-50, with 2:29 left.

Fullerton, which led by as many as nine points in the first half, got no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Titan center Genia Miller, who scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and was named the tournament’s most valuable player, committed her fourth foul with 17:26 remaining and left the game with Fullerton leading, 34-33.

Jackson’s jumper made it 36-33, but the Beavers (2-0) scored 10 consecutive points, four each by Shannon and Sonjhia Fleming, to take a 43-36 lead. Miller returned with 15:01 to go and didn’t foul out, but she wasn’t able to assert defensively, and the Beavers took advantage.

Southwest Texas State defeated Cal State Northridge, 60-52, in the consolation game. Fullerton point guard Michelle Hennessey, Shannon, Oregon State center Natlia Mattick and Southwest Texas State guard Tammie Tilghman also made the all-tournament team.