FULL NOTEBOOK vs. CAL STATE STANISLAUS IN PDF FORMAT


SEASIDE, Calif -- The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team returns to The Kelp Bed for the first time in a month to host a pair of games this weekend. The Otters will host Cal State Stanislaus Friday (Jan. 20) and Chico State Saturday (Jan. 21). Both games tip-off at 5:30 p.m. as the opening games of men's/women's doubleheader action.

If you can't make the games in person, be sure to watch and listen live at www.OtterAthletics.com. Kevin Rivchardson and Patrick Kelley will call the action from courtside.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS: Stanislaus snapped a three–game losing streak by holding off Cal State Dominguez Hills for a 57–53 win last Saturday. Its signature win this season was a 69–68 victory at Chico State on Jan. 2. The Warriors limp into the weekend with just nine healthy bodies. One of those is senior forward Theresa Henderson, who leads the CCAA in scoring (21.2 points per game) and is No. 2 in rebounding (9.9 rebounds per game). Sophomore forward Lauren Godde ranks a distant second on the team at 11.4 ppg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters clinched the outright 2011 CCAA title with a 67–56 win over Cal State Stanislaus on Feb. 25, 2011 in The Kelp Bed. Led by Julie Heurung's 25–point, 14–rebound double–double, the Otters didn't let Stanislaus get within two possessions of the lead over the final 17 minute en route to their 24th regular season victory. Christin Gowan led the Warriors with 18 points.

ONE STEP BACKWARDS, TWO STEPS UP: Although the Otters saw their nine–game winning streak snapped at UC San Diego Saturday, their road split last weekend propelled them up two spots to No. 22 in this week's USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otters took care of business Jan. 13, never trailing while defeating Cal State San Bernardino 63–54. They looked to keep things rolling Saturday at (then) No. 2 UC San Diego, building an 11–point lead midway through the first half. But the Tritons came out on fire in the second half and rolled to a 91–63 win.

FRONTRUNNERS: As has been noted in this space throughout the season, the Otters have been lethal when winning at the half, but they've also done a great job putting teams away early. Last Friday's win at Cal State San Bernardino marked the sixth time this season that the Otters never trailed en route to a victory.

20–POINT POWER: Brittani Jefferson's 22–point game at Cal State East Bay was the sixth 20–point game of the season by the Otters. Four different Otters have reached that plateau this season. Jefferson has done it twice, including a 21–point night vs. Simpson. Erika Ward (22 vs. Colorado State–Pueblo), Stefanie Corgel (20 vs. Cal State L.A.) and Brandi Stephens (22 vs. Humboldt State; 25 vs. Sonoma State) account for the other four.

20–POINT POWER, PART II: The above statistic stands out a bit more when you consider that the Otters posted just three 20–point games during last season's 27–4 CCAA Championship run. All three of those games belonged to Julie Heurung.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN… After playing eight games at home to open the 2011–12 season, the Otters are seeing extensive road action for the first time, playing nine of 11 away from The Kelp Bed. The Otters finished the first leg of that spread with a 4–1 record. After playing twice at home this weekend, they'll head south again to begin a four–game road trip.

…JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN: If recent history is any indication, hitting the road is a good thing for the Otters. CSUMB has won 16 of its last 18 regular season road games dating back to the 2009–10 season.

'TIS THE SEASON OF NOT GIVING: While not quite on its record setting pace which led all of NCAA Division II last season, the Otter defense has not been in the giving spirit this season. The Otters have held 10 of their first 13 opponents to 60 or fewer points.

HIGH (TWENTY) FIVE: Brandi Stephens' 25–point effort against Sonoma State made her just the fifth player in CSUMB women's basketball history to score 25 points in a game. The only Otters to score more were Dana Andrews (who did it eight times, including a school–record 41 points against Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2008) and Alma Lopez (who dropped 33 on SFSU in 2008). 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).

DOUBLE–DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE: By posting 18 points and 11 rebounds last week against the Coyotes, Brittani Jefferson recorded her third double–double in four games. She is one of three Otters to post a double–double this season The trio of Jefferson, Shonetta Crain–Williams (Oakland/El Cerrito HS) and Holly Holcomb already have combined for five double–doubles. Last season, only two Otters posted double–doubles in the regular season: Julie Heurung (3 times) and Holcomb (once).

TURN IT ON AGAIN: Saturday's loss at UC San Diego snapped CSUMB's CCAA win streak at 14 games dating back to Feb. 11, 2011. The Otters have won nine consecutive CCAA home games and are on a 16–1 CCAA home streak dating back to the 2009–10 season.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 49 consecutive regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 55–2 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.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: Senior guard Erika Ward (Simi Valley/Royal HS/Ventura JC) is on a record–setting pace from beyond the three–point line. Her 36 treys this season already rank No. 8 in the CSUMB season record book. At her current pace, she will finish the regular season with 72, one off the school record of 73 set by Dana Andrews during the 2007–08 season.

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.