SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay played its best 25 minutes of December, but Cal State San Bernardino overcame that in the final 15 to earn a 65–60 win Saturday night in Coussoulis Arena.

Behind a game–high 17 points from Aubri Smith (Buena HS/Ventura College) the Otters opened an 11–point lead at 40–29 three minutes into the second half. But a cold–shooting spell combined with five turnovers in a six–minute arrested the Otter surge.

That's all the time San Bernardino needed to go on a 15–0 run to reclaim the lead. CSUMB rallied to take its final lead, 56–55, on a Smith layup with 2:48 to play. The Otters had two chances to increase their lead but couldn't before three consecutive Coyote buckets put the game away. 
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Jasmine Sauser blocked Emily Hardin's 3–point attempts with fives seconds remaining.

HOT AND COLD… The Otters had their best–shooting first half (11-of-25, 44.0 pct.) in 10 games Saturday night. But they went ice cold again (9-of-30, 30.0 pct.) in the second half.

HOT AND COLD, TAKE II… Like CSUMB, Cal State San Bernardino has struggled shooting the ball this season. The Coyotes shot an uncharacteristic 49.0 pct (24-of-49) in Saturday's win. To rub salt in the wound, they also made a season–high 11 3–pointers and shot a season–high 50.0 pct (11-of-22) from beyond the arc.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Aubri Smith 17; REBOUNDS: Camille Parker 5; ASSISTS: Brianna Tucker 5; BLOCKS: Courtney Keaton 1; STEALS: Courtney Keaton/Aubri Smith 3.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return home to ring in 2018 by hosting Stanislaus State Thursday (Jan. 4). Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. as the opener of men's/women's doubleheader action.