Late Run Lifts Army Past Fullerton, 80-79, in Arizona :: Black Knights Use 11-3 Run to Come From Behind

Nov. 26, 2005

Flagstaff, Ariz. - - Information Courtesy www.goarmysports.com

After trailing for most of the game, an 11-3 run by the Black Knights during the middle of the second half, capped by a Megan Vrabel layup, gave Army the victory in the consolation game of the Quinta Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Tournament.

Army evens its record at 2-2 overall, while Cal State Fullerton is now 0-4 on the young season.

After Cal State Fullerton tied the contest at 71-71 at the 4:24 mark, Vrabel made a layup and Cara Enright had a layup and a jumper inside the paint, giving Army a six-point lead, 77-71, with just over two minutes left. The Army margin was just two, 77-75, heading into the final minute of play, when Vrabel made a layup with 55 seconds left and added a free throw with 29 ticks on the clock, giving Army the 80-75 lead.

A layup by Toni Thomas with nine seconds remaining in the contest made it a one-point game, 80-79. The Titans sent Vrabel to the foul line with eight seconds remaining and she missed both shots. Cal State Fullerton had one shot remaining, but Audrey Taylor's three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired came short of the basket, giving Army the victory.

Army jumped out to the early 9-4 advantage, with the Black Knights first five points from Enright, at the 17:36 mark, but Cal State Fullerton would score the next six points, taking their first lead of the contest, 10-9, with 15:12 still to play. Army trailed, 18-13, seven and a half minutes into the contest, when an Ashley Magnani layup followed by an Alex McGuire jumper brought the Black Knights within one, 18-17, with 10:14 remaining.

Amber Pruitt extended the Titans advantage, 20-17, at the 9:57 mark when Enright answered right back for the Black Knights with a three-pointer to tie the game at 20-20 just 15 seconds later. Army took the 25-24 advantage with 6:56 remaining in the first stanza and would further extend its margin to 31-26 with just under five minutes remaining. Cal State Fullerton would go on a 17-6 run during the final four and a half minutes of the first half, giving the Titans the 43-37 halftime advantage.

Enright led all scorers with 12 points at the break, while Vrabel chipped in with seven points. Army outrebounded Cal State Fullerton, 18-13, at the intermission, while the Titans were 19-for-32 (59.4 %) from the field and the Black Knights were just 15-32 (46.9 %).

Stefanie Stone accounted for nine of Army first 13 points of the second half, keeping the Black Knights within eight of the Titans, 58-50, with 14:41 remaining. Audrey Taylor made a layup at the 14:20 mark giving the Titans a double-digit lead. That advantage was short-lived though as the Black Knights responded with a 10-2 run, capped by a Jen Hansen three-pointer from the top of the key, cutting the Cal State Fullerton margin to two, 62-60, with 10:31 remaining in the contest.

Army took its first lead of the second half at the 6:42 mark off a McGuire jumper from the right side of the basket. It was in the midst of a 9-0 run for the Black Knights started by two Megan Evans free throws and a Hansen three-point basket to draw Army within one. Two Enright free throws extended the Army margin to three, 71-68, with 6:04 remaining.

Enright led all scorers with 25 points and four rebounds. Vrabel finished with 12 points, while Stefanie Stone had a career performance with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Fullerton was led by Underwood and Pruitt, who had 18 points apiece. The Titans return to action on Thursday (Dec. 1) as they host San Diego at 7 p.m. at Titan Gym.