FULL NOTEBOOK at SONOMA STATE IN PDF FORMAT


SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Otters will look to bounce back into the win column when they begin the final leg of their roadtrip Thursday (Feb. 2) at Sonoma State in Rohnert Park. Fan who can't make the trip can listen to Rob Ponce call the game live on OtterAthletics.com.

SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES: Sonoma State is getting hot just in time for meeting the Otters this week, having won three straight entering Thursday's clash. Win or lose, the Seawolves play mostly low–scoring affairs. They have allowed as many as 73 points just once (73 at UCSD) and scored as many as 60 points just once (75 vs. Stanislaus) in 14 CCAA games this season. Jaclyn Bisordi is the only Sonoma player averaging more than seven points per game, checking in this week at 10.8 ppg. Aly Conway is next on the list (6.4 ppg) and chips in a team–leading 5.5 rebounds per game.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters pulled a Houdini act to escape certain defeat and earn a 64–59 overtime victory against Sonoma in The Kelp Bed on Dec. 3. Sonoma led by as many as 16 points in the second half before the Otters made their charge. A pair of Brandi Stephens free throws with two seconds left forced overtime. Stephens scored a career–high 25 points to lead all scorers. Elizabeth Day came off the bench to lead Sonoma with 19.

A SERIES OF STREAKS: The all–time series between CSUMB and Sonoma State has been dominated by two streaks. The Seawolves took the first eight meetings before the teams split in 2009. It's been all Otters since then, however, with CSUMB winning the last six.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otters opened a 17–point second half lead then held on for dear life to survive a furious Cal State Dominguez Hills comeback and defeat the Toros 60–56 in Carson Friday evening. Saturday, Cal State L.A. was on fire, shooting an Otter opponent season best 57 percent in a 69–54 win over CSUMB at the Eagles' Nest. Brandi Stephens led CSUMB both nights, finishing with 14 and 12 points Friday and Saturday.

Sonoma State, meanwhile, picked up two road wins, including an important 57–45 win at Chico State. The wins moved the Seawolves into sixth place and two games clear of Cal State San Bernardino for the final CCAA Tournament berth. Jaclyn Bisordi led Sonoma with 33 points on the week, including 20 in the win over Chico State.

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. The Jan. 13 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 are 5–2 so far in that stretch, including 1–1 on the current four–game 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 17 of its last 20 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 12 of their first 17 opponents to 60 or fewer points.

STEPHENS ON A STREAK: Brandi Stephens enters the week on a bit of a run, having led the Otters in scoring for the past four games. She is averaging 14.3 points per game over that stretch.

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 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).

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 51 consecutive regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 57–2 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 is on a near record–setting pace from beyond the three–point line. Her 41 treys this season already rank No. 6 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.