FULLERTON, Calif. – The CSUB Roadrunners defeated Big West foe Cal State Fullerton, 71–66, in women's basketball action Wednesday night at Titan Gym, earning their fifth win in six games. 

CSUB (14–10) wasted no time putting points on the board as junior guard Kristine Herman (San Ramon, Calif./Florida Gulf Coast) nailed a three in the game's first possession to set the tone for the Roadrunners. Her team would follow suit as the 'Runners used a 7–0 run through the first four minutes to gain an immediate lead over Cal State Fullerton (7–14).

Fullerton would eventually get baskets from its' bench as freshman Yvont'e Neal scored the Titans' first eight points. CSUB scored 11 unanswered points to gain a 12–point lead before the Titans turned the table and held the Roadrunners scoreless for four minutes. Behind a 10–0 run, CSUF got to within three points before Herman hit a jumper and freshman guard Tyonna Outland (Compton, Calif./Lynwood HS) knocked down a trey to get CSUB back out to a comfortable lead.

Outland and senior forward Nikki Leon (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon HS) led the 'Runners with nine points apiece through the opening half, giving CSUB a 37–27 lead at the half.

The momentum continued to be on the Roadrunners' side in the opening minutes of the second half as the 'Runners increased their lead to 13 points for the third time in the game.

After starting off the half hot from the field, CSUB went just 5–15 through a twelve minute span, giving the Titans an opportunity to work themselves back into the game. Fullerton managed to cut the lead down to four with a little over eight minutes to play, thanks to back–to–back layups from Megan Richardson. Richardson sparked a 9–0 Titan run which brought them to within two.

CSUF threatened to take the lead several times through the next two minutes however, junior forward Jana Smith (Tehachapi, Calif./Tehachapi HS) came up big, putting up 10 of her career–high 16 points in the second half.

The teams exchanged three–pointers in the closing minutes to keep the game close but Outland and sophomore guard Amber Williams (Fontana, Calif./Etiwanda HS) were able to knock down free–throws to secure the 71–66 CSUB win.

Three Titans finished in double–figure scoring while Outland led the 'Runners with a game–high 17 points and Smith (16 points) and Herman (16 points) were the only other Roadrunners in double–figures. Leon led the squad with eight rebounds while Herman was close behind, pulling down a career–high seven.

The Roadrunners continue their road swing as they head to Farmville, Va. Wednesday, Feb. 2 to play the first of a two–game series with Longwood University. Tip–off in Farmville is slated for 4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST.

Newspaper Box Score
CSU Bakersfield vs Cal State Fullerton
01-26-11 7:00 pm at Fullerton, CA (Titan Gym)
At Fullerton, CA (Titan Gym)

CSU BAKERSFIELD 71, CAL STATE FULLERTON 66

CSU BAKERSFIELD (14-10)
Outland, Tyonna 5-10 6-10 17; Herman, Kristine 4-11 6-6 16; Smith, Jana 5-9
6-7 16; Leon, Nikki 4-9 1-2 9; Williams, Amber 2-14 3-4 8; Johnson, Cebrina
2-7 0-0 5; Davis, Tamiko 0-2 0-0 0; Fields, Breana 0-4 0-2 0. Totals 22-66
22-31 71.

CAL STATE FULLERTON (7-14)
Grove, Lyndsey 6-13 0-0 15; Richardson, Megan 5-19 2-3 14; Neal, Yvont'e 3-5
2-2 11; Chow, Lauren 3-5 0-0 8; Bushong, Lauren 4-7 0-0 8; Lutu, Simone 2-6
0-0 4; Richie, Ashley 0-4 2-2 2; Avila, Katie 1-5 0-0 2; Thomas, Alex 1-6
0-1 2. Totals 25-70 6-8 66.

CSU Bakersfield...............   37   34  -   71
Cal State Fullerton...........   27   39  -   66

3-point goals--CSU Bakersfield 5-20 (Herman, Kristine 2-7; Outland, Tyonna
1-2; Johnson, Cebrina 1-3; Williams, Amber 1-4; Fields, Breana 0-1; Leon,
Nikki 0-3), Cal State Fullerton 10-22 (Neal, Yvont'e 3-5; Grove, Lyndsey
3-5; Chow, Lauren 2-4; Richardson, Megan 2-5; Thomas, Alex 0-1; Richie,
Ashley 0-2). Fouled out--CSU Bakersfield-None, Cal State Fullerton-None.
Rebounds--CSU Bakersfield 47 (Leon, Nikki 8), Cal State Fullerton 50
(Bushong, Lauren 14). Assists--CSU Bakersfield 10 (Williams, Amber 3), Cal
State Fullerton 13 (Chow, Lauren 3; Thomas, Alex 3). Total fouls--CSU
Bakersfield 14, Cal State Fullerton 22. Technical fouls--CSU
Bakersfield-None, Cal State Fullerton-None. A-182