Women's Basketball | December 01, 2014

SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team will look for another fast start to the CCAA portion of its schedule when it hosts perennial powers UC San Diego (Friday) and Cal Poly Pomona (Saturday) in its first conference games of the season in The Kelp Bed. Tipoff both nights is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as the openers of men's/women's doubleheader action.

The Otters have a recent history of starting quickly in the CCAA. CSUMB has won five of its last six CCAA openers and is 6–4 all–time in CCAA home openers since joining the league for the 2004–05 season.

The Otters player four CCAA contests over the next three weeks before taking time off for the traditional Christmas break. In addition to this weekend's games, the Otters play a home–and–home series with Cal State East Bay Dec. 13 and Dec. 20.

Fans who can't make it to The Kelp Bed can watch locally in HD on Campus Televideo Ch. 73.1 and online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Veteran play–by–play man Kevin Richardson returns for his fourth season behind the mike.
 

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TRITON 3–DOT NOTES (2–3, 0–0): UCSD has opened the season an uncharacteristic 2–3 against a tough early schedule…snapped a 3–game losing streak with a 62–49 win over Azusa Pacific Saturday at home…first team All–CCAA guard Miranda Seto leads UCSD and ranks No. 3 in the CCAA at 19.4 points per game…junior forward Farah Shokoor, a transfer from San Francisco State, leads the CCAA in rebounding at 11.8 rpg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: In a game that was tied 23–23 at the half, UCSD used an 8–0 run early in the second half as the catalyst for a 56–48 win in The Kelp Bed on Feb. 13, 2014. The Otters got 13 points and three steals from Chezla Self. Miranda Seto led UCSD with 16 points, including a 10–of–12 effort from the free–throw line.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters made their final preconference tune–up a successful one with a not–as–close–as–the–score–indicated 81–67 win over future CCAA member Cal State San Marcos Saturday afternoon. The Otters led by as manay as 20 points in the first half and by as much as 28 in the second half. Jenna Bandy led the way with 19 points, five rebounds and three steals.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: The Otters earned their first–ever win over Chico State, 50–46, back on Dec. 5, 2008 in the CCAA opener for both teams. The win was significant in that the then upstart Otters were picked to finish last in the conference while the defending CCAA Champions Wildcats were picked to repeat. CSUMB went on to win a (then) school–record 11 games in 2008–09.

HOME SWEET HOME: The onerous CCAA schedule which requires 22 conference home games (out of 25 dates) hasn't left much room for nonconference play in The Kelp Bed, but the Otters have enjoyed those games when they could. With last week's win over Cal State San Marcos, Otters are now 13–3 in nonconference play at home since the 2007–08 season.

YOU CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A SCORECARD: Otter fans will have plenty of new faces to remember as we kickoff the 2014–15 season. Eleven of the 16 active players will be making their debutante appearances this season.

CLIMBING THE HILL: Sophomore forward McKenna Hill continues to make the most of her opportuntieis as a first–year starter. Saturday, she matched her career high with 12 points versus CSUSM.

THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY: The theory of relativity applies to the Otter bench this season. Joining the team as a volunteer assistant coach is Kellie Beckman, the mother of Otter senior guard Nikki Beckman. Kellie was most recently on the coaching staff at Ohlone College.

TART ME UP: Senior guard Jenna Bandy has been a super sub for the Otter for the first three–plus seasons of her career. She made her second consecutive start (and the third of her career) Saturday against Cal State San Marcos. In those two starts, she missed her career high in scoring by one point (with 19 vs. CSUSM) while matching her career highs with eight rebounds (vs. Holy Names) and three steals (in both starts).

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING: Jenna Bandy's first start came in her sophomore season, when she helped the Otters win the 2012 CCAA Tournament Championship game with a career–high four assists in a 71–69 victory over Cal State L.A. on Mar. 3, 2012.

70 IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING: With apologies to Douglas Adams, the answer to everything isn't 42, it's 70. With Saturday's 81–67 win over Cal State San Marcos, CSUMB is now 34–2 when scoring 70 or more points since the 2008–09 season. Prior to the 2013 regular season finale (an 84–75 overtime loss to Chico State), the Otters hadn't scored 70 in defeat since a 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. With the win over San Marcos, CSUMB has won 75 of its last 79 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. Since 2008–09, the Otters have an 81–5 regular season record when leading at intermission. Included in that run was a 52–game winning streak broken when Humboldt State overcame a 32–31 on deficit Feb. 4, 2012 to win 65–51.

THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST: Defense continues to be the staple of the Otter diet, with CSUMB finished last season allowing just 59.2 points per game. The Otters finished their first season under Head Coach Kerri Nakamoto ranked No. 1 in both the CCAA and the West Region and No. 13 in the nation in scoring defense.