Senior guard Stefanie Corgel knocks down the three-pointer that punctuated CSUMB’s decisive 20-4 run in Friday night’s win over San Francisco State.
BOX SCORE
SEASIDE, Calif. — They weren't the best 40 minutes of basketball played by the Cal State Monterey Bay women's team this season, but just like a team with the Otters' championship pedigree might be expected to do, CSUMB came up big when it counted the most, rallying from a 14–point deficit to upend visiting San Francisco State 63–58 Friday night in The Kelp Bed.
CSUMB trailed 53–39 with 7:40 remaining when a
Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) layup started—and a
Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) dagger three—punctuated a 20–4 Otter run that gave CSUMB its first lead of the second half.
But while offense may have provided the spark, defense was once again the catalyst to the chain reaction of events that culminated in victory. After allowing the Gators an uncharacteristic 53 points over the first 30–plus minutes, CSUMB held SFSU to just five points over the final 9:13. That, ultimately, proved to be the difference.
The offense more than carried its load down the stretch, however, converting a perfect 6–of–6 from the field and 4–of–4 from the line during the decisive run.
SFSU, meanwhile, succumbed to the late pressure. The Gators were 1–of–9 from the field and 2–for–8 from the free–throw line over the final 7:40 of regulation.
Jefferson led a balanced Otter box score with 11 points and nine rebounds. Corgel added nine points while backcourt mate
Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) chipped in six points, four assists and four steals.
Nicole Hicks led SFSU (9–8, 6–7 CCAA) with a game–high 16 points. Farrah Shokoor added an 11-point, 15-rebound double–double.
“We are all on the same page about positioning ourselves to make a run during the second half of conference, so we knew this was a must win game,” said CSUMB Head Coach
Renee Jimenez. “It was great to see our older kids encouraging the team to keep fighting.”
Friday's win moved CSUMB (12–3, 9–3) one–half game behind second place with UC San Diego and one–half game ahead of Cal State L.A. heading into Saturday night's action. UCSD plays at Cal State L.A. Saturday while the Otters host Sonoma State at 5:30 p.m. for their annual homecoming game.
GO OTTERS!
