TURLOCK, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team got off to a slow start in the its season opener on Friday evening falling to Concordia University - Oregon in the first game of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge, 64-51.

The Otters found themselves searching for their game legs in the first quarter as the offense scored five points to open the season. It was a much improved second quarter, however, as CSUMB outscored the Cavaliers 15-13 to make it a respectable 11-point game at the break.

The Otters scored 10 points in the third quarter in an attempt to narrow the deficit, but the Cavaliers proved too strong offensively by scoring 19 in the quarter to take a 20-point lead to final 10 minutes. CSUMB out forth its best effort in the fourth quarter with a 21-point period, the highest scoring quarter of the game. However, the Cavs managed to hold on, handing the Otters the 64-51 loss to open the season.
 

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THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN... The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 24 (60-36) at the 5:41 mark of the third quarter after a good free throw shot by Bailey Cartwright.

CAN'T CRACK THE CODE... The Otters have yet to beat the Cavaliers in two matchups. They lost 61-52 in the 2016-17 season opener in Portland.

FOR OPENERS... With tonight's loss, the Otters are now 7-8 in 15 season opening games.

STAT PACK... POINTS: Jennifer Saelio -- 10; REBOUNDS: Courtney Keaton -- 9; ASSISTS: Aubri Smith, Christine Golfo -- 3; BLOCKS: Alexa Sperling -- 1; STEALS: Saelio -- 3

THE FINAL WORD... "It looked like our first game tonight. We started the game with some nervous energy and got us down in a hole early. We played them even for the remaining three quarters but the start is really what hurt us. We need to be better with our shot selection and taking care of the ball." -Head Coach Kerri Nakamoto

THEY'VE GOT NEXT... Monterey Bay will play its second game of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge on Saturday afternoon when they face Northwest Nazarene. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m.