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SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team opened its 2012-13 season two weeks back at the Lady Argo Classic. This week, however, the real fun begins as the Otters will take the floor for the first time in California Collegiate Athletic Association action when they travel to meet Sonoma State Friday (Nov. 30) in The Wolves' Den.

CSUMB (2-0 overall, 0-0 CCAA) has won seven straight against Sonoma State (1-2, 1-1), including a 54-50 win in Rohnert Park last season. The teams played into overtime in The Kelp Bed, with the Otters coming from behind late to prevail 64-59.

Live audio of the game will be available online at OtterAthletics.com.

CLICK HERE for live stats and video from SonomaSeawolves.com.

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SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES: After opening the season with a tough loss to the University of Mary, the Seawolves split their CCAA travel partner games with San Francisco State, losing on the road (63–61) before winning at home (70–60) last week. Senior guard Taylor Vigil leads the typically balanced Sonoma offense at 13.3 points per game. Senior center Elizabeth Day chips in 10.3 ppg and a team–leading 5.7 rebounds per game.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: The Otters enjoyed a rare week off to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

WELCOME BACK: The Otters gave a big welcome back to junior forward Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) who made her first two starts at the Lady Argo Classic Nov. 16–17 after missing nearly all of the 2011–12 season due to injury.

WE MISS YOU: CSUMB played opening weekend without a pair of injured Otters who figure to be key cogs in the machine this season. Sophomore guard Angelique Bailey (Fontana/Etiwanda HS) and Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa College) both missed the Lady Argo Classic due to injury. 

FOR OPENERS: The season opener at Notre Dame de Namur was the ninth opening day at the NCAA Division II level for CSUMB women's basketball. The Otters are now 5–4 in such openers, including a perfect 5–0 mark under fifth year Head Coach Renee Jimenez. CSUMB is now 3–4 when opening day has occurred outside The Kelp Bed.

FOR CCAA OPENERS: Friday's game at Sonoma State will mark the ninth CCAA opener in CSUMB women's basketball history. The Otters are 5–3 in those games, including a spotless 4–0 mark under fifth–year Head Coach Renee Jimenez.

ANOTHER 20–WIN SEASON, ANOTHER TITLE: The Otters secured a second consecutive 20–win season and a second consecutive championship banner with last season's run through the CCAA Tournament. They are the first two of each in CSUMB women's basketball history.

70 IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING: With apologies to Douglas Adams, the answer to everything isn't 42, it's 70. The Otters have won 23 consecutive games when scoring at least 70 points, a streak they continued with their 71–69 CCAA Championship Game victory over Cal State L.A. on Mar. 3, 2012. In fact, CSUMB is 24-1 all–time when scoring 70 or more points under Renee Jimenez. The lone loss, you ask? An 85–79 loss to Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 6, 2008.

ALL–CCAA TEAMS: Then senior wing Brandi Stephens earned first team All–CCAA honors as voted on by the conference coaches for 2011–12. Current seniors Stefanie Corgel and Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley College) garnered second team recognition.

ALL–CCAA TOURNAMENT: Brittani Jefferson's buzzer beater in the title game helped propel her to winning the CCAA Championship most outstanding player award. She was joined on the all–tournament team by Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) and Erika Ward.

SHE STEALS SIX STEALS BY THE SEASHORE: Jessica Fontenette and Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) each collected six steals in consecutive games versus Notre Dame de Namur and Shepherd University respectively. Those marks tie for No. 3 in the Otter single–game record book.

20–POINT POWER: Brittani Jefferson's 22–point game at Cal State East Bay on Dec. 30, 2011 was the sixth 20–point game of the season by the Otters. Four different Otters reached that plateau last season. Jefferson has did it twice (including a 21–point night vs. Simpson). Erika Ward (22 vs. Colorado State–Pueblo), Stefanie Corgel (20 vs. Cal State L.A.) and Brandi Stephens (22 vs. Humboldt State; 25 vs. Sonoma State) account for the other four.

20–POINT POWER, PART II: The above statistic stands out a bit more when you consider that the Otters posted just three 20–point games during 2011's 27–4 CCAA Championship run. All three of those games belonged to current assistant coach Julie Heurung.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 56 of its last 57 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 62–3 all–time regular season record when leading at intermission. Humboldt State broke the Otters' 52–game win streak in such situations by overcoming a 32-31 on deficit Feb. 4, 2012 to win 65–51. CSUMB was 18–1 when leading at halftime last season.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: Otter success in the Renee Jimenez era begins with defense. The 2011–12 Otters allowed just 59.6 points per game, marking the third consecutive season they allowed fewer than 60.0 points per game.

BALANCING ACT: While defense remains the forté, the Otter offense found success by doing an insane balancing act once again in 2011–12. CSUMB's top six scorers averaged between 9.8 and 7.6 points per game, marking the second consecutive season that an Otter championship team did not feature a player who averaged in double figures.

OTTERS WEARING RED? While not traditionally a CSUMB color, red will be the color for five Otters who will redshirt the 2012–13 season: Two of the redshirts will be returning players: Senior guard Danielle Padilla and sophomore forward Mykayla Harris. They will be joined on the redshirt list by junior wing Kayla Patton and freshman guards Victoria Dorn and Tyvette White.

OVERTIME: Four seasons, four overtime games, four wins. That's the formula for CSUMB and bonus basketball during the Renee Jimenez era. The Otters have played (and won) exactly one overtime game each season under Jimenez. Last season, the Otters came from behind late in regulation then finished off Sonoma State 64–59 in The Kelp Bed on Dec. 3, 2011.