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Nikki Beckman Notebook Graphic 2013
Vernon McKnight

Battle of CCAA Favorites Highlights Weekend Roadtrip

| By: By Kevin Gilmore
Sophomore guard Nikki Beckman led the Otter offense to a pair of wins last weekend with back-to-back 12-point performances.

Preseason CCAA favorite CSUMB battles first place Chico State Friday in Chico





SEASIDE, Calif. -- After taking down 2012 CCAA regular season champion UC San Diego last Friday, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team will travel north to tackle 2013 front-runner Chico State Friday (Jan. 25) as part of a two-game trip that includes a Saturday stop at Cal State Stanislaus.

Chico State enters the game ranked No. 9 nationally and leading CSUMB by 2 1/2 games in the CCAA standings (the Otters have played one fewer game). Not only could Friday's game prove to be critical to both teams as the conference race reaches the midway point, but it could set up an even bigger game in March as the Otters and Wildcats conclude the regular season in The Kelp Bed on Mar. 1.

Tipofff will be at 5:30 p.m. as the opener of men's/women's doubleheader action. Otters fans can listen and watch online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Rob Ponce will call all of the action live from courtside.


SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (13–1, 9–1 CCAA No. 9 NCAA Div. II): With only a 71–65 loss at UCSD to mar its 2012–13 schedule, Chico State is off to its best–ever start through 14 games. The Wildcats enjoyed several blowout wins early in the season, but things got a bit tighter over the past two weeks. In addition to the loss at UCSD, they beat San Bernardino, Cal State L.A. and Dominguez Hills by just 6.3 points per game. The Chico stat sheet is nearly as balanced as the Otters', with only juniors Jazmine Miller (12.6 ppg) and McKenzie Dalthrop (11.9 ppg) scoring in double figures.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters rallied from deficits of 13 points in the first half and nine points in the second half to boot Chico State in the CCAA Championship semifinals, 71–65, on Mar. 2, 2012 at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla. Then junior forward Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) overcame early foul trouble to lead the Otters with 16 points and six rebounds. Jazmine Miller scored 20 points in a losing cause for Chico.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters rose to the occasion in the second half, out–scoring upset–minded Cal State San Bernardino by 19 points in the period to post a 55–47 win Saturday night in The Kelp Bed. San Bernardino shot uncharacteristically well in the first half (48 pct.) while the Otter struggled to find their range and trailed at halftime 28–17. But it took CSUMB just 7:27 of the second half to erase that deficit en route to the win. Sophomore guard Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) led the typically balanced scoring effort with 12 points.

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT: Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) finally grabbed the brass ring, taking the career steals record from Dana Andrews (2006–09) in Jan. 12 win over Humboldt State. Fontenette now has 141 steals, eclipsing Andrews' mark by seven. Junior forward Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) currently ranks No. 8 on the list with 85.

ICE, ICE BABY: With apologies to Vanilla Ice (or to readers for the Vanilla Ice reference), the Otters have been more than cold, they've been ice ice cold shooting from beyond the arc recently. Going back to the Cal State Dominguez Hills game on Jan. 4, the Otters are 8–for–57 from long range (14.0 pct.) in regulation play. That includes an 0–for–10 night last Friday vs. Cal Poly Pomona. Excluding that stretch, the Otters have been one of the best three–point shooting teams in the CCAA at 35.7 percent.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: While the Otter long–range shooters may still be finding their range, the Otter defense as been as consistent as — for lack of a better comparison — the Otter defense. Entering Friday's game at Chico, the Otters have held three consecutive opponents (7 of 12 on the season) under 50 points. Only two scores have reached the 60–point plateau in regulation against CSUMB, and both came in Otter victories (79–63 vs. Academy of Art on Dec. 5 and 78–66 at Dominguez Hills on Jan. 4).

A MISLEADING RECORD: While Cal State L.A. did touch up the Otter defense for an opponent season–high 72 points, credit that total to the three overtimes and not the Golden Eagle scoring prowess. The Otters held CSULA to 45 points in regulation, 53 points through the first overtime and 63 points through the second overtime.

DEFENSE IS BEST IN THE WEST: The Otter defense currently ranks No. 1 among NCAA Division II West Region school by allowing just 52.4 points per game. That number is also good for the No. 8 ranking among all NCAA Division II schools. That mark would rank No. 2 all–time in CSUMB history behind only the 2010–11 squad that led the nation by allowing just 51.2 ppg.

BACK–TO–BACK DOUBLE–DOUBLES: Junior forward Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa CC) and Brittani Jefferson each posted double–doubles the weekend of Jan. 4–5, with Morgan going for 10 points and 10 rebounds at Dominguez Hills and Jefferson getting 10 and 13 at CSULA. It marks just the third time in four seasons two different Otters have posted consecutive double–doubles. The last two to do it were Jefferson (14 & 10 at SFSU on Jan. 5, 2012) and Shonetta Crain–Williams (14 & 12 at Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 7, 2012).

In case you're wondering, the last time two Otters posted double–doubles in the same game came on Feb. 18, 2011 when Holly Holcomb had 10 & 10 and Julie Heurung had 20 & 10 in a 62–45 win over Sonoma State on Feb. 18, 2011.

MUNSCH–ING ON THE URBAN KNIGHTS: Senior forward Gabby Munsch (Lodi/Cal State San Marcos) hit 10–of–14 from the field to match her career high with 21 points in CSUMB's Dec. 5 win over Academy of Art. It was CSUMB's first 20–point game of the season and its first since Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) dropped 20 on Cal State L.A. on Dec. 18, 2011. It's still the only 20–point game by an Otter this season.

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 26 consecutive games when scoring at least 70 points, a streak they continued with their 78–66 win at Dominguez Hills on Jan. 4. In fact, CSUMB is 27–1 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 62 of its last 64 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 68–3 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.

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.

THAT GIRL GIVES A HAND: Jessica Fontenette matched her personal best with seven assists in the win over Academy of Art. That mark ties for the No. 8 spot in the CSUMB record book. Fontenette now has 155 career assists moving her two ahead of Dana Andrews for No. 4 on that list. Alma Lopez set the CSUMB standard with 206 assists from 2007–08.

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. The Otters entered the week allowing 49,2 ppg, good for No. 5 in the nation among NCAA Division II schools.

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.

OTTERS WEARING RED? While not traditionally a CSUMB color, red will be the color for four Otters who will redshirt the 2012–13 season: One of the redshirts is a returning player: Senior forward Mykayla Harris. She will be joined on the redshirt list by junior wing Kayla Patton and freshman guards Victoria Dorn and Tyvette White.


GET ENTHUSE, EARN REWARDS

Hey Otter fans, want to earn rewards simply following your favorite CSUMB sports teams? Of course you do. Otter Athletics is partnering with Enthuse to allow you to do just that. All you have to do is visit the iTunes Store (iPhones) or play.google.com (Android) and download the FREE Enthuse app.

Once installed, search for “Monterey Bay Otters” to find your favorite CSUMB teams and you'll start earning points immediately. The more you follow the Otters, the more points you'll earn and the more free stuff you'll get. It really is that easy.

So download the Enthuse app and start earning your rewards today.





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