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SEASIDE, Calif. -- Fresh off a weekend sweep of CCAA foes Humboldt State and Sonoma State, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team continues its eight-game season-opening homestand by hosting Simpson University in a nonconference tilt Saturday (Dec. 10) at 5:30 p.m.

SCOUTING THE RED HAWKS: Simpson University is an NAIA Division II school located in Redding. The Red Hawks will be looking for their first road win of the season, entering the week 0–6 on the road. CSUMB will be Simpson's third NCAA Division II opponent of the season (aL Western Washington 63–108; nL Saint Martin's 61–70). Like CSUMB, Simpson makes its name with defense. The Red Hawks rank No. 8 in NAIA Division II play with 143 totals steals through 13 games.

Individually, senior forward Bekah Eppler leads the Red Hawk offense at 14.8 points per game, including a 27–point night at Hope International. Eppler also leads Simpson at 7.2 rebounds per game. Junior guard Ariassa Wilson is the top passer, averaging 4.5 assists per game.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The teams have not met since the 2004 season; CSUMB's last year in NAIA play. The Otters and Red Hawks split that season, with each successfully defending its home floor.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otters pulled out a pair of wins last week when solid defense overcame a pair of midgame shooting slumps. CSUMB fought through a five–point deficit midway through the second half to down Humboldt State 67–60 before erasing a 16–point second half deficit in a 64–59 overtime win over Sonoma State.
Senior guard Brandi Stephens (Sacramento/El Camino HS) came off the bench to spark the offense, scoring a career–high 22 in the win over Humboldt before besting that number with 25 points against Sonoma State.

WORKING OVERTIME: Saturday's overtime win versus Sonoma State marked just the fourth time in the Renee Jimenez era that the Otters have played bonus basketball—and the first time since a 68–65 win over Menlo College on Dec. 13, 2009. CSUMB is a spotless 4–0 in those games.

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 last week, Brandi Stephens earned Wilson CCAA Player of the Week honors. She is 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: Last Saturday's 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. They've 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 three 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 43 consecutive regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 49–2 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.

THIEVES IN THE NIGHT: Two Otters continued their climbs up the CSUMB career top 10 for steals. Junior forward Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) grabbed three last week to solidify her hold on the No. 7 slot with 74 career steals. Junior guard Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat HS) three steals in the win over Sonoma State and owns sole possession of ninth place with 65. Both are chasing the career record of 133 set by Dana Andrews from 2006–09.

ON THE BLOCKS: Holly Holcomb also began the season chasing the career blocked shots record. She picked up her third block of the season against Humboldt State and is alone at No. 3 with 37 career blocks. Julie Heurung set the pace with 77 blocks in just two seasons (2010–11).

ON THE REBOUND: Holly Holcomb continues to claw her way up the Otter career rebounding ladder. She grabbed four boards against Humboldt State to solidify her hold on the No. 4 spot with 311. Next up is Julie Heurung with 416 boards. Krista Herr sets the pace in this category with 643 rebounds from 2005–08.