FULL NOTEBOOK vs. CAL STATE L.A. IN PDF FORMAT


SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team returns to the floor Sunday (Dec. 18) when it hosts Cal State L.A. in the first of consecutive CCAA doubleheaders at The Kelp Bed. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. as the opener of men's/women's doubleheader action.

The Otter men and women will also host Cal State Dominguez Hills Monday (Dec. 19), with tip-off times returning to the traditional 5:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. format.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Cal State L.A. enters Sunday's game having won three of its last four, including a 67–53 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills last Sunday. Mercer University transfer Lacy Ramon is the top Golden Eagle scorer and rebounder at 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Pierce College transfer Tessondra Williams is the only other Golden Eagle averaging in double figures at 16.0 points per game. Maryum Jenkins, a transfer from Youngstown State, adds 3.1 steals per game.

WHEN LAST WE MET: Cal State L.A. opened the series between these teams by winning four straight, but the Otters have turned the tables by winning the last four, including a 66–56 win at the Eagle's Nest on Feb. 12, 2011. The Otters led for the final 33 minutes and led by double digits for most of the last 10
London Houchin and Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) led four Otters in double figures with 14 points apiece. Lacy Ramon came off the bench to lead all scores with 16 points for L.A.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otter led wire–to–wire in an 86–55 nonconference win over Simpson University Dec. 10 in The Kelp Bed. The comfortable win gave Head Coach Renee Jimenez a chance to use her entire bench. All 12 Otters in uniform grabbed at least one rebound while 11 of the 12 scored three or more points. Junior forward Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC/Quartz Hill HS) came off the bench to lead CSUMB with 21 points and seven rebounds (read more below).

JEFFERSON MAKES HISTORY: Brittani Jefferson did more than score a career–high 21 points in the Dec. 10 win over Simpson University—she also etched her name in the CSUMB record book. Her 10 field goals made tied the Otter record set by Janet Oseguera against William Jessup University on Dec. 13, 2008.

LARGE MARGINS: The 86–55 win over Simpson University equalled the largest margin of victory—31 points—in CSUMB women's basketball history. It matched the 83–52 win over William Jessup University on Dec. 13, 2008 and the 52–21 win over Cal State East Bay on Feb. 5, 2011.

NOT QUITE RECORDS: The Otters gave several other noteworthy (if not quite record–setting) performances in the win over Simpson University. The 86 points scored rank No. 3 on CSUMB's all–time list (the record is 95 versus the University of Mary on Nov. 15, 2008). The 34 field goals made tie for the No. 2 mark and were the most in a regulation game (the record of 36 was set in a double overtime win against UC San Diego on Dec. 3, 2010). The 21 assists tie for the No. 2 mark on that list (27 versus William Jessup on Dec. 13, 2008).

HIGH (TWENTY) FIVE: Brandi Stephens' 25–point effort against Sonoma State made her just the fourth player in CSUMB women's basketball history to score 25 points in a game. Dana Andrews is the only player to score more (recording a school–record 27 points against the University of Mary in 2009 and 26 points on two other occasions). The other 25–point scorers were Julie Heurung (vs. Cal State Stanislaus on Feb. 25, 2011) and Helen Suarez (at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Jan. 9, 2009).

STEPHENS NAMED CCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For her exploits Dec. 2–3, Brandi Stephens earned Wilson CCAA Player of the Week honors. She became the first Otter to earn the award this season and the first named conference player of the week since Julie Heurung won the honor for the week ending Feb. 7, 2010.

KEEP IT ROLLING: The Dec. 3 victory over Sonoma State brought CSUMB's CCAA win streak to nine games dating back to a Feb. 11 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Otters have won eight consecutive CCAA home games and are on a 15–1 CCAA home streak dating back to the 2009–10 season.

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. The Otters have won all four games in which they led at the half to start this season.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 44 consecutive regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 50–2 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.

BOMBS AWAY, PLAYER EDITION: The Otters have shot from long range at an historic pace so far this season. Senior guard Erika Ward (Simi Valley/Ventura College) broke the CSUMB single–game record with six treys in the Nov. 23 win over Colorado State–Pueblo (Dana Andrews twice set the previous standard with five). Ward did it in a recording–breaking 12 attempts, besting the old mark of 11 by Andrews and Veronica Williams.

BOMBS AWAY, TEAM EDITION: As a team, the Otters have tied the school mark for three–pointers in a game twice this season with 11 in wins over Pueblo and Academy of Art. If they keep their current pace, they will break the school record for three–pointers made (182) in the Feb. 24 game at Cal State Stanislaus.

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT: Junior guard Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat HS) enjoyed her second consecutive three–steal game in the win over Simpson College. With that effort, she passed Andrea Hanshew for sole possession of eight place with 68. She is chasing the career record of 133 set by Dana Andrews from 2006–09.