SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team got off to a slow start on Saturday afternoon against Cal State San Marcos. The Otters found themselves down 10 quickly in the first quarter, 14-4. It would prove to be too deep a hole to dig out off as CSUMB trailed by as many as 15 to the Cougars at the 6:32 mark of the third quarter that led to an eventual 6-point loss.
CSUMB got hot late in the third behind the hand of
McKenna Hill (St. Bonaventure HS), who led the Otters with 12 points. Monterey got within four points, but stingy Cougar defense held the Otters at bay down the stretch leading to a narrow 58-52 loss at home.
THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Aubri Smith's (Buena HS) layup with eight seconds remaining missed the mark as the Cougars' Kaitlyn Reina grabbed the rebound to seal the deal
SOOOO CLOSE: Alexa Sperling (Buchanan HS) came off the bench to nearly record a double-double. Sperling netted 10 points but grabbed nine boards to fall short. Not to mention, she was 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
I'LL TAKE 'EM!: Aubri Smith tied her career and season-high in assists with seven on Saturday afternoon vs San Marcos. In fact, she was the only Otter player to record an assist in the game.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Hill -- 12;
REBOUNDS: Sperling -- 9; ASSISTS: Smith
-- 7; BLOCKS: Sperling -- 3
; STEALS: Victoria Dorn (Seaside HS) -- 3
THE LAST WORD: "I think we came out a little tentative with our shot selection. Once we calmed down in the second half I thought we did a better job of executing by being stronger with the basketball.
" -Head Coach Kerri Nakamoto
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… After a brief homestand to begin 2017, Cal State Monterey Bay will hit the road for three games beginning next Saturday, Jan. 14, at Cal State East Bay. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
GO OTTERS!
