BOX SCORE

BELMONT, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team improved to 2–0 on the season with a workman–like 64–56 win over NCAA Division II rival Shepherd University Saturday at Day 2 of the Lady Argo Classic in Gleason Gym.

As it did in Friday's 61–44 win over host Notre Dame de Namur, CSUMB virtually never trailed, but had to work the full 40 minutes to subdue a Shepherd (1–1) team that won 20 games last season.

“I'm really proud of how our kids battled tonight,” said CSUMB Head Coach Renee Jimenez. “It's always nice to have close games early in the season to test where we are as a team. We still have a couple kids who we are trying to get healthy and, once we have them back, I expect us to really hit our stride.”

Shepherd took its last lead at 10–9 six minutes into the contest. But a Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) layup less than a minute later regained the lead for the Otters and they never trailed again.

CSUMB extended its lead to 14 points, 42–28, by halftime. The lead was 21 points (49–28) less than two minutes into the second half before the Rams began to chip away at the Otter advantage.

Shepherd eventual got as close as five points when Jazmin Tolson's free throw made it 59–54 with 1:44 remaining. But Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) nailed a jumper on the ensuing Otter possession before a Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) steal set up a Corgel three–pointer that iced the game.

Corgel led three Otters in double figures with 16 points. Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) and Jenna Bandy (Thousand Oaks HS) each added 10 points. Beckman, meanwhile finished with game highs of six assists and six steals.

CSUMB will take time off for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to action Nov. 30 with its CCAA opener at Sonoma State. The Otters return to The Kelp Bed for a key regional game against Academy of Art on Dec. 5.