FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Cal State Fullerton used a dominant first quarter to set the tone in an 81-66 women’s basketball victory over Portland State on Saturday at Titan Gymnasium. The Titans opened a 25-15 lead after the first period and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way. Cal State Fullerton’s interior play was decisive, outscoring Portland State 40-26 in the paint and converting 32 points off turnovers. The Vikings never recovered from the early deficit despite a balanced scoring effort across all four quarters. The win improves Cal State Fullerton to 5-5 on the season. Portland State drops to 3-7. An announced crowd of 210 attended the nonconference game.

FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — The Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter to establish an early lead it would never relinquish, cruising to an 81-66 victory over Portland State on Saturday night at Titan Gymnasium. The Titans (5-5) erupted for 25 points in the opening period, capitalizing on a flurry of Portland State turnovers to build a double-digit advantage that set the tone for the entire contest. The Vikings (3-7), despite a more competitive effort in the subsequent quarters, could never fully recover from the initial deficit in front of an announced crowd of 210. Cal State Fullerton’s early surge was fueled by a disruptive defense and efficient transition offense. The Titans scored 32 points off 22 Portland State turnovers and outscored the Vikings 40-26 in the paint, highlighting their control of the game’s interior and tempo. The opening minutes were decisive. After Portland State’s Ajae Yoakum lost the opening tip, Cal State Fullerton’s Maddy Tauro scored on a fast-break layup just three seconds into the game, a harbinger of the pace to come. The Titans forced four Vikings turnovers in the first four minutes, converting them into easy baskets. A three-pointer from Kya Pearson and a layup from Cristina Jones extended the lead to 17-6, prompting an early Portland State timeout. Portland State showed resilience, with Sophie Buzzard hitting a three-pointer and Laynee Torres-Kahapea connecting on a floating jumper to keep the margin from ballooning further. However, the Titans closed the quarter with authority. After a defensive stop, Jana Falsdottir drained a three-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer, giving Cal State Fullerton a commanding 25-15 lead. The second and third quarters saw Portland State attempt to chip away, but each Viking push was met with a Titan response. The Vikings cut the lead to eight points on several occasions, but Cal State Fullerton consistently answered with scores in the paint or from the free-throw line to maintain a comfortable cushion. A key sequence in the third quarter saw the Titans stretch a 10-point lead to 16 in a span of just over two minutes, effectively sealing the outcome. Hannah Chicken led Portland State with 15 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Kyleigh Brown added 12 points and Sophie Buzzard contributed 10 for the Vikings, who shot consistently across all four quarters but could not match the Titans’ early offensive explosion or their proficiency in converting turnovers into points. Cal State Fullerton showcased a balanced scoring attack. Dylan Swindle led all scorers with 15 points, while Tauro provided a critical early spark with 14 points in just nine minutes of play. Pearson and Falsdottir each added 13 points, with Falsdottir also dishing out three assists. Nicole Steiner anchored the interior with nine points and a game-high defensive presence. The victory moves Cal State Fullerton back to .500 on the season, while Portland State sees its two-game winning streak snapped. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, the Titans entered the game with a 78 percent probability to win, a projection borne out by their wire-to-wire performance. Portland State will look to rebound when it hosts Seattle on Wednesday. Cal State Fullerton travels to face San Diego next Saturday.

Preview: Portland State Vikings at Cal State Fullerton Titans FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum before conference play begins will meet Saturday when the Portland State Vikings visit the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a nonconference women’s basketball game. The matchup at Titan Gymnasium features teams with similar early-season records. Portland State (3-6) arrives after snapping a two-game skid with an 85-79 overtime road win at Missouri-Kansas City last Saturday. Cal State Fullerton (4-5) also enters on a high note, having won two straight, including an 82-80 home victory over Hawaii last Saturday. The game will showcase two of the Big West Conference’s top performers. Portland State is led by guard Kyleigh Brown, who is averaging 21.0 points per game. She is coming off a 29-point, 42-minute effort in the win over UMKC and has scored 28 or more points in three of her last five contests. For the Titans, forward Nicole Steiner provides a versatile threat. She posted a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the win over Hawaii, demonstrating her all-around impact. Steiner averages 11.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Portland State’s victory over UMKC saw key contributions from Laynee Torres-Kahapea and Hannah Chicken, who each added 11 points. The Vikings will need similar supplemental scoring to support Brown’s prolific output. Cal State Fullerton’s recent win was a balanced effort, with Cristina Jones scoring a team-high 22 points alongside Steiner’s triple-double. The Titans have shown offensive firepower, scoring 96 points in a rout of Cal Poly on Dec. 4. Both teams have struggled defensively at times this season. Portland State allows an average of 74.2 points per game, while Cal State Fullerton gives up 71.0. The contest could hinge on which team can string together more defensive stops. This is the final nonconference home game for Cal State Fullerton before it begins Big West play on Jan. 1. Portland State continues its road swing before returning home to face Seattle on Dec. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Fullerton.