Women's Basketball | December 15, 2017

FULL NOTEBOOK (PDF)

SEASIDE, Calif.—The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team will host its final home game of the 2017 calendar year when San Francisco State visits The Kelp Bed Sunday (Dec. 17) for a rare 2 p.m. tip-off. It will be the first of two meetings this season between the Otters and the Gators.

Fans who can't break away from their Christmas shopping to make it to The Kelp Bed for Sunday's game can follow all of the action online with live stats and video on OtterAthletics.com.
 

---

GATOR 3–DOT NOTES (3–5, 1–4 CCAA): The Gators are still searching for solid footing under first–year Head Coach Kristina Danella, who led Caldwell University (N.J.) to the NCAA Division II Tournament last season…Gators have lost 3 of 4, including a tough 66–64 setback at Chico State in their last game (Dec. 9)…lone CCAA win was a 69–62 decision over Sonoma State (Dec. 7)…Jhaina Stephens (Jr./F) leads the Gators in both scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.9 rpg)…also ranks No. 2 in the CCAA in both categories…Courtenay Brown (Jr./G) is the only other Gators scoring in doubles at 10.3 ppg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters didn't take the lead for good in this one until a Jessi Evans 3–pointer gave them a 60–57 lead with 6:22 remaining. CSUMB went 4–for–4 from the line in the final 42 seconds to hold off the Gators. McKenna Hill led the Otters with a 23–point, 11–rebound double–double. Donae Moguel had 13 points and 11 boards for the Gators

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: Despite shooting just 18 percent on 28 3–point attempts, the Otters had several chances to take the lead down the stretch before falling in the waning seconds at Notre Dame de Namur, 59–54, last Sunday in Belmont. Courtney Keaton led the Otters with an 11–point, 13–rebound double–double. Jordana Price also scored 11 points.

THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Emily Hardin's 3–point attempt couldn't find its way home with five seconds remaining and NDNU leading 59–54.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: The Otters are looking for their first Dec. 17 victory after dropping their previous two decision on the date. Last season, the Otters couldn't get the game–winner to fall as the buzzer sounded in a 72–70 loss at Academy of Art on Dec. 17, 2016.

ANOTHER DOUBLE–DOUBLE… Courtney Keaton came into her senior season with just one career–double–double in 45 collegiate appearances. Sunday's 11–point, 13–rebound effort at NDNU gives her three double–doubles in her last nine games.

A LITTLE WINDEX, PLEASE… Courtney Keaton (13) and Alexa Sperling (7) cleaned the glass to the tune of 20 rebounds Sunday at NDNU. The duo both rank in the Top 10 on the CSUMB career rebounding leaderboard. Keaton sits in the No. 8 spot at 352 while Sperling passed Michele Hale (2003–05) Sunday for the No. 9 spot Sunday with 330.

THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE… The Otters took historically good care of the ball Dec. 8 at UC San Diego, committing just seven turnovers. Not only is that total a season low, it tied the Otter record for fewest turnovers in a game first set against Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 28, 2011.

TWO OF A KIND: With games of 27 and 29 points in her last seven games, Aubri Smith now owns two of the Top 10 scoring games in CSUMB history. She joins all–time lead scorer Dana Andrews (5) as the only Otter players to have at two games ranked in the Top 10.

OTTERS AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: Aubri Smith's 16.3 ppg ranks her No. 6 on the CCAA scoring chart as we pass the quarter pole of the regular season. Other Otters amongst the leaders include: REBOUNDING: No. 9 Courtney Keaton (8.2 rpg); ASSISTS: No. 6 Aubri Smith (3.8 apg); STEALS: No. 7 Aubri Smith (2.0 spg).

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? With the Otter men having rallied in the final five minutes to win two of their last three games, the Otter women, are now the team for whom the final five minutes have been all but irrelevant. CSUMB 10–0 when leading after 35 and 0–27 when trailing after 35 dating back to the 2015–16 season.

THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING: With apologies to Douglas Adams, the answer to everything isn't 42, it's 70. With the Nov. 17 71–70 win at Cal State L.A., CSUMB is now 40–5 when scoring 70 or more points since the 2008–09 season. Up that number to 80 points and the numbers get even more impressive. The Otters have won 15 consecutive games when scoring at least 80 points dating back to the 2005–06 season.