SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: The The Wildcats have been one of the hottest teams in the west region and ride a six–game winning streak into Friday's game. Synchro Bull and Jazmine Miller lead the Chico State offense at 13.1 and 10.4 points per game respectively. Bull is also the team's leading rebounder at 5.6 rpg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The walking wounded of CSUMB went to battle in Chico in Feb. 23 without floor general Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB), who missed the game due to illness. The point guard's absence proved critical down the stretch as CSUMB committed four consecutive turnovers on its final four meaningful possessions to allow the Wildcats to come back and claim a 51–47 victory. Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Quartz Hill HS) led CSUMB with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Crystal Sewell and MacKenzie Dalthrop led Chico with 10 point each.

OTTERS No. 5 NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Otters slipped one spot to No. 5 in the penultimate NCAA Division II West Region rankings, released Wednesday [Note: Results from Tuesday were not considered in these rankings]. The top eight teams in the final poll (Mar. 4) will advance to the NCAA West Regional. The top 10 to date are: 1–UCSD; 2–Alaska-Anchorage; 3–Grand Canyon; 4–Western Washington; 5–CSUMB; 6–Cal Poly Pomona; 7–Humboldt State; 8–Chico State; 9–Cal State L.A.; 10–Dixie State.

POSTSEASON BOUND–AGAIN: The Otters will continue their third consecutive postseason appearance when they face Chico State Friday night. CSUMB is 3–3 all–time in postseason play, posting a 2–2 record in the CCAA Tournament and a 1–1 record in the NCAA Regionals. The Otters are 1–0 at home in the postseason game, defeating Sonoma State 62–45 in the CCAA Tournament first round on Mar. 1, 2011.

HIVE FIVE FOR DOUBLE–DOUBLES: Brittani Jefferson stepped up big in her first postseason game with the Otters, scoring 10 points and grabbing a season–high 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 46–43 win over Cal State East Bay. To put that effort in perspective, last season's CCAA Championship team combined for just four double–doubles (3 by Julie Heurung and 1 by Holly Holcomb).

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.

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).

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: CSUMB conclided the home portion of its schedule with a 12–4 record in The Kelp Bed. Under Head Coach Renee Jimenez the Otters are 36–17 (.679) at home, including a 24–5 (.828) mark over the last two seasons.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, PART II: The Otters have had tremendous success in The Kelp Bed during the Renee Jimenez era. The Otters are on a 21–4 home streak and are 22–4 in their last 26 home games against CCAA teams.

'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 19 of their 27 opponents to 60 or fewer points.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 56 of its last 57 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 62–3 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 deficit Dec. 4 to win 65–51.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: Senior guard Erika Ward is on a near record–setting pace from beyond the three–point line. Her 55 treys this season tie her with Veronica Williams for the No. 2 spot in the Otter season record book. Dana Andrews holds the season record (73) set in 2008.

Ward's 83 career three–pointers broke the CSUMB two–year career record of of Michelle Santizo, who made 82 from 2010–2011. Dana Andrews holds to all–time record of 178 set from 2006–09.