BOX SCORE

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — It was only the first step on a long road to March Madness, but a big step it was for the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team. The Otters led nearly wire-to-wire, using nine second half three-pointers to blitz Sonoma state 78-45 in the largest victory of the Renee Jimenez era of Otter basketball.

The 33-point final margin eclipsed the previous high of 31 points set three times previously, most recently in an 86-55 win over Simpson University on Dec. 20, 2011.

“This is the game we have been looking for,” said Jimenez. “We know how dangerous we can be when all cylinders are firing, but we just hadn't been able to keep and extend leads. Our kids did a great job of not letting up and playing for 40 minutes.”

Sophomore guard Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) drove the dagger into the Seawolves, nailing four second-half three-pointers as part of her game-high 19 points. Junior guard Jenna Bandy (Thousand Oaks HS) also finished strong, scoring nine of her career-high 13 points after the break.

The Otters took the lead for good at 4-2 on a pair of Beckman layups. CSUMB opened an 11-point lead midway through the first half, but Sonoma battled back to cut the lead to three points at 25-22 before a Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) three beat the buzzer to put CSUMB up 32-24 at the break.

Coming out of the lockerroom, Beckman and Corgel hits threes on the first two Otter possessions, getting the lead permanently to double digits at 38-24. Another Beckman three created the first 20-point lead at 60-39. When Rebecca Griffin (Santa Barbara/Ventura College) hit an 18-foot jumper with 5:23 remaining, the lead reached 71-41 and never dipped below 30 points for the duration.

CSUMB (3-0, 1-0 CCAA) will continue its opening run of five consecutive CCAA road games when it travels south on Highway 101 to take on San Francisco State Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Sonoma State (1-3, 1-2) hosts Cal State East Bay Saturday evening.