FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Kya Pearson scored 21 points and Cal State Fullerton dominated the fourth quarter to erase a halftime deficit and defeat Long Beach State 70-62 in a Big West Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Titan Gymnasium.

The Titans, who trailed by five at the break, outscored the 49ers 24-20 in the final period to secure their fourth consecutive victory and improve to 15-9 overall. Long Beach State, which led for much of the first three quarters, dropped its second straight game to fall to 3-20.

The most critical phase of the game came in the third quarter, as Cal State Fullerton began to impose its will and erase Long Beach State’s early advantage. After building a 33-28 halftime lead behind a 21-point first quarter, the 49ers’ offense stalled dramatically, managing only nine points in the third period. The Titans capitalized, using an 18-9 quarter to seize a 46-42 lead entering the final frame.

Cal State Fullerton’s defense was the catalyst for the turnaround. The Titans forced 23 Long Beach State turnovers and converted them into 14 points. They also amassed 15 steals, with Pearson and Cristina Jones applying constant pressure. Despite shooting just 22 of 70 from the field and a dismal 1 of 12 from three-point range, the Titans compensated with relentless offensive rebounding, grabbing 17 boards on their own end to create 19 second-chance points. They also lived at the free-throw line, making 25 of 32 attempts.

Pearson, a guard from Oakland, played a game-high 40 minutes and added four assists and two blocks to her scoring output. Talia Maxwell provided 12 points and a key defensive presence, while Nicole Steiner came off the bench to score all 10 of her points in the second half, providing crucial interior offense.

Long Beach State was led by Khylee Pepe, who scored 18 points. JaQuoia Jones-Brown added 12 points and five assists, and Brynna Pukis contributed 10 points. The 49ers shot a higher percentage from the field, 43.2% to 31.4% for Fullerton, and blocked 13 shots, but were undone by their turnover count and the Titans’ advantage on the glass and at the foul line.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 22, which Cal State Fullerton won by 18 points. The Titans’ latest win was projected by advanced metrics, with Interstat’s ELO system giving them an 83.1% probability of victory.

Cal State Fullerton continues its conference schedule at home against UC Irvine on Saturday. Long Beach State returns home to host UC Davis on the same day.