BOX SCORE


BOX SCORE  |  RENEE JIMENEZ POSTGAME COMMENTS


SEASIDE, Calif. —The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team suffered through its worst shooting half of the young season, causing the Otters to stumble for the first time in a 68–63 loss to visiting Simon Fraser University Saturday afternoon in The Kelp Bed.

Junior center Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley College) led CSUMB (2–1 overall) with 15 points while junior forward Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) chipped in her second career double–double, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Neither team was able to take control in a tight first half featuring five ties and six lead changes. But the Otters opened the second going 2–for–7 from the floor, helping Simon Fraser take its biggest lead of the day at 52–42 midway through the period. CSUMB battled all the way back over the ensuing six minutes, tying the game at 56–56 on a Brandi Stephens (Sacramento/Sierra College) three–pointer at the 6:32 mark.

But the Clan retook the lead on their next possession and never relinquished it.

“Today's game was a great learning lesson for us,” said CSUMB Head Coach Renee Jimenez. “We didn't follow our scout or defensive rules and it showed on almost every possession.”

Trailing 67–63 with just over two minutes remaining, The Otter defense held Simon Fraser to just a single free throw for the balance of the game, but the offense went 0-for-6 from the floor to extinguish a final comeback attempt.

In addition to Jefferson and Holcomb, Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) posted game highs of four assists and three steals for CSUMB. Nayo Raincock–Ekunwe led Simon Fraser (7–1) with 17 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

“SFU is a tough team, but I felt that we really beat ourselves,” added Jimenez. “We have a lot of work to do in order to be ready for next Friday and Saturday. I know our kids will put the work in and I'll be anxious to see how we respond against tough Humboldt and Sonoma teams.”

CSUMB returns to action Friday, Dec. 2, opening defense of its CCAA title by hosting Humboldt State. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. as the first game of men's/women's doubleheader action.


SIMON FRASER UNIV. (68)
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe 6-10 5-6 17; Carla Wyman 4-8 3-5 13; Kia Van Laare 4-9 0-0 9; Kristina Collins 3-6 0-0 8; Chelsea Reist 2-4 2-2 6; Erin Chambers 2-8 1-2 6; Marie-Line Petit 2-2 0-0 4; Kelsey Binns 1-4 0-0 3; Anna Carolsfeld 1-1 0-0 2; Rebecca Langmead 0-0 0-0 0; Katie Lowen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 11-15 68.

CAL ST. MONTEREY BAY (63)
Brittani Jefferson 7-12 1-2 15; Holly Holcomb 4-8 2-2 11; Brandi Stephens 2-6 4-6 9; Stefanie Corgel 3-8 2-2 8; Kris King 3-9 0-0 6; Jessica Fontenette 2-5 0-0 4; Brittany Lewis 1-2 2-2 4; Danielle Padilla 1-2 0-0 3; Erika Ward 1-7 0-0 2; Jenna Bandy 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 24-59 12-16 63.

Halftime: SFU 33-32. 3-point goals--SFU 7-18 (Wyman 2-3; Collins 2-4; Chambers 1-5; Van Laare, Kia 1-4; Binns 1-2), CSUMB 3-15 (Padilla 1-1; Holcomb 1-2; Stephens 1-3; Fontenette 0-1; Ward 0-5; Corgel 0-3). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--SFU 35 (Raincock-Ekunwe 14), CSUMB 32 (Holcomb 11). Assists--SFU 12 (Wyman, Collins, Raincock-Ekunwe 3), CSUMB 10 (Fontenette 4). Total fouls--SFU 15, CSUMB 17. Technical fouls--None. A-131