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2013 WBB Notebook Graphic-Lewis 1

Otters Return Home, Host High-Flying Academy of Art

| By: By Kevin Gilmore
Senior guard Britnee Lewis will play her final regular season home opener when the Otters host Academy of Art Wednesday in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB looking to bounce back from Saturday upset by hosting 2012-13 regular season opener





SEASIDE, Calif. -- After suffering a surprising setback at San Francisco State in its last outing, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball will try to bounce back into the win column when it hosts high-flying Academy of Art  Wednesday (Dec. 5) in The Kelp Bed. It will be the regular season home opener for CSUMB (3-1, 1-1 CCAA), which hasn't played a meaningful home game since defeating Cal State East Bay in the opening round of the CCAA Tournament on Feb. 28, 2012.

Academy of Art enters the game at 5-1 overall, with its lone loss a 6662 defeat at Northwest Nazarene on Nov. 23.

Live audio and video of the game will be available online at OtterAthletics.com. Veteran play-by-play man Kevin Richardson will call the action. Click the "Gameday Central" link above for direct links.




SCOUTING THE URBAN KNIGHTS: The Urban Knights are off to a hot start under second–year Head Coach LaNay Larson with only a 66–62 loss at Northwest Nazarene to blemish their first seven results. They posted wins over CCAA foes Humboldt State (86–65) and Cal State East Bay (59–56) to open the season. Senior forward Ariel Dale leads three ArtU players averaging in double figures at 14.7 points per game. Senior post player Katy Wade adds 11.0 ppg and 9.9 rebounds per game.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters knocked down 11 three–pointers and added their usual suffocating defense to breeze past the Urban Knight in an 82–68 season–opening win last year in The Kelp Bed. Then senior guard Erica Ward led all scorers with 16 points while Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) chipped in 15. Alisa Griggs led ArtU with 14 points.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otters led for almost the entire first half then exploded out of the gate to start the second half to cruise to a 78–45 win over Sonoma State in the Wolves' Den Friday night. But they suffered a shocking upset the next night, making just 2-of-20 from behind the arc in a 49–38 setback at San Francisco State.

FOR (HOME) OPENERS: The Otters are 6–2 in home openers at the NCAA Division II level, including a spotless 4–0 mark under Renee Jimenez.

HOME SWEET HOME, PART I: The Otters have enjoyed quite The Kelp Bed advantage under Renee Jimenez, posting a 36–17 (.679) home record in her four seasons at the helm. Over the past two seasons, CSUMB is an even more impressive 24–5 (.828) within the friendly confines.

HOME SWEET HOME, PART II: The Otters have been particularly dangerous at home in nonconference tilts during the Jimenez era, posting a 9–1 record in such contests. The lone loss, you ask? A 68–63 defeat by Simon Fraser University on Nov. 26, 2011.

ONE FOR THE (RECORD) BOOKS: The 33–point margin of victory last week at Sonoma State was the largest in Renee Jimenez era of Otter basketball. It eclipsed three 31–point victories, most recently in an 86–55 win over Simpson University on Dec. 20, 2011. 

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: The Otters made 11 three–point field goals in Friday's win at Sonoma State, equaling the No. 2 mark in the team record book, last set in a win over Colorado State–Pueblo on Nov. 23, 2011. The record is 12 set at San Francisco State on Jan. 23, 2008.

ANOTHER 20–WIN SEASON, ANOTHER TITLE: The Otters secured a second consecutive 20–win season and a second consecutive championship banner with last season's run through the CCAA Tournament. They are the first two of each in CSUMB women's basketball history.

70 IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING: With apologies to Douglas Adams, the answer to everything isn't 42, it's 70. The Otters have won 24 consecutive games when scoring at least 70 points, a streak they continued with their 78–45 win over Sonoma State last week. In fact, CSUMB is 25-1 all–time when scoring 70 or more points under Renee Jimenez. The lone loss, you ask? An 85–79 loss to Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 6, 2008.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 57 of its last 58 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 63–3 all–time regular season record when leading at intermission. Humboldt State broke the Otters' 52–game win streak in such situations by overcoming a 32-31 on deficit Feb. 4, 2012 to win 65–51. CSUMB was 18–1 when leading at halftime last season.

SHE STEALS SIX STEALS BY THE SEASHORE: Jessica Fontenette and Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) each collected six steals in consecutive games versus Notre Dame de Namur and Shepherd University respectively. Those marks tie for No. 3 in the Otter single–game record book.

A THEIF IN THE NIGHT: Jessica Fontenette is closing in on the CSUMB career steals record of 133 held by Dana Andrews (2006–09). Fontenette enters the week with 122 steals, good for the No. 2 spot on the CSUMB list. Holly Holcomb currently ranks No. 8 on the list with 78.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: Otter success in the Renee Jimenez era begins with defense. The 2011–12 Otters allowed just 59.6 points per game, marking the third consecutive season they allowed fewer than 60.0 points per game.

BALANCING ACT: While defense remains the forté, the Otter offense found success by doing an insane balancing act once again in 2011–12. CSUMB's top six scorers averaged between 9.8 and 7.6 points per game, marking the second consecutive season that an Otter championship team did not feature a player who averaged in double figures.

WORKING OVERTIME: Four seasons, four overtime games, four wins. That's the formula for CSUMB and bonus basketball during the Renee Jimenez era. The Otters have played (and won) exactly one overtime game each season under Jimenez. Last season, the Otters came from behind late in regulation then finished off Sonoma State 64–59 in The Kelp Bed on Dec. 3, 2011.

OTTERS WEARING RED? While not traditionally a CSUMB color, red will be the color for five Otters who will redshirt the 2012–13 season: Two of the redshirts will be returning players: Senior guard Danielle Padilla and sophomore forward Mykayla Harris. They will be joined on the redshirt list by junior wing Kayla Patton and freshman guards Victoria Dorn and Tyvette White.
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