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SCOUTING THE URBAN KNIGHTS: The Urban Knights of the Academy of Art opened their 2011–12 season last week at the CCAA/Pac–West Challenge. They picked up a win in their opener, defeating Cal State East Bay 52–44 behind 14 points from Alisa Griggs and 10 rebounds from Nicol Biesek. The following night, however, Humboldt State jumped to a 20–point halftime lead en route to a 68–54 Lumberjack win. Griggs led Art U once again, this time with 12 points.

WHEN LAST WE MET: This will be just the second time the Otters and Urban Knights have met in women's basketball. The only previous meeting was a 72–64 CSUMB win on Nov. 29, 2008 in The Kelp Bed. Danielle Baker and Dana Andrews led the Otters with 14 and 13 points respectively. Jacqul Heck led three Academy of Art players in double figures with a game–high 19 points.

LAST WOMAN STANDING: Senior guard Lorraine Etchell is the only player from either side to have seen action the last time these teams met. The then freshman got a start and scored seven points in 17 minutes.

FOR OPENERS: The Otters are 3–4 all–time in season–openers at the NCAA Division II level (2004–05 to present). The Otters have won all three openers under Head Coach Renee Jimenez, including a 71–49 victory over Hawaii Pacific to open last season.

FOR HOME OPENERS: The Otters have been solid in home openers at the NCAA Division II level, posting a 5–2 mark in those games. In home openers that were also season openers, CSUMB is 1–0, with the 2010–11 season marking the first time CSUMB has opened a season in The Kelp Bed.

RANK IT UP: After finishing 24th in the WBCA/USA Today Top 25 last season, the Otters enter 2011–12 receiving votes in the preseason top 25 for 2011–12. It marks the first time the Otters have received votes in the preseason national rankings.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Otters enter Tuesday's game versus Academy of Art riding a six–game home winning streak. The Otters are on a four–game nonconference win streak at home. The last time the Otters lost to a non–CCAA team in The Kelp Bed came in a 71–64 setback to Fort Lewis College on Dec. 29, 2007.

TWO TITLES IN ONE: The Otters earned not one but two titles during the 2010–11 campaign. With a 20–2 mark in conference play, the Otters captured their first CCAA women's basketball championship. By allowing just 51.2 points per game, they also earned the NCAA Division II statistical championship for scoring defense. It was the first statistical title for the CSUMB women's basketball program.

STARTING FAST: The Otters found much of their success by starting fast last season. CSUMB went 23–1 when it led at halftime in 2010–11, including a spotless 21–0 mark in the regular season.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 40 consecutive regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 46–2 all–time regular season record when leading at intermission. The last time the Otters lost such a game came on Feb. 14, 2009 when Cal State L.A. overcame a 29–25 deficit at the break to win 67–63.

WELCOME ABOARD: The Otters welcome seven new faces to their 2011–12 roster, including a pair of NCAA Division I transfers in junior Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UC Santa Barbara) and sophomore Hillary Drinovsky (Long Beach/Loyola Marymount). Corgel is eligible to play immediately while Drinovsky must sit due to NCAA transfer regulations.

WELCOME ABOARD, COACHES EDITION: The Otter bench will welcome a pair of new coaches as well in 2011–12. Former NBA star Tariq Abdul–Wahad, the first French national to play in the NBA, will get his first taste of collegiate coaching with the Otters this season. Meanwhile, LaShawn Johnson will make the transition from player to student–assistant coach in 2011–12. Johnson appeared in 24 games for the Otters as a senior in 2010–11, averaging 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

THIEVES IN THE NIGHT: Two Otters enter the 2011–12 season ranked in the CSUMB career top 10 for steals. Junior guard Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) currently ranks No. 8 with 65 career steals while fellow junior guard Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat HS) is tied for 10th with 53. Both are chasing the career record of 133 set by Dana Andrews from 2006–10.

ON THE BLOCKS: Holly Holcomb also begins the season chasing the career blocked shots record. She begins her junior season ranked third with 34 career blocks. Julie Herung set the pace with 77 blocks in just two seasons (2010–11).

ON THE REBOUND: Holly Holcomb will look to climb one more career list this season, beginning the 2011–12 campaign with 286 total rebounds, good for the No. 4 spot on the Otter career list. Krista Herr sets the pace in this category with 643 rebounds from 2005–08.