Jessica Fontenette and the Otters didn't back down from the challenge in Sunday's exhibition opener at USC.
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LOS ANGELES — Head Coach
Renee Jimenez and the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team knew they faced a tall order when they travel to the Galen Center to open their exhibition schedule against Pac–12 contender USC Sunday afternoon. After all, literally half Women of Troy roster is composed of players at least as tall as the tallest Otter.
The Trojans used every bit of the advantage too, compiling an incredible 63-24 rebounding advantage to pull away from CSUMB in the second half en route to a 73-45 victory.
CSUMB opened the game shooting just 2-of-19 from the floor but didn't use that as an excuse to roll over. Instead, the Otters used their typically scrappy defense to limit USC to just 6-of-35 shooting in the first half (17 percent) and added some timely shooting of their own late in the period to pull to within seven points at 31-24 by intermission.
“Our staff could not be more proud of our team and the effort they gave against a very talentedTrojan team,” said Jimenez. “I thought we played hard and were locked in for about 30 minutes in the game.When we made mental mistakes, they made us pay. Overall I thought our defense was outstanding and will continue to be the staple of our team.”
It was still a single-digit game five minutes into the second half. With CSUMB trailing just 37-30, the Women of Troy needed less than three minutes to complete a 12-0 run that gave them control with a 49-30 lead. The Otters twice cut the lead back to 14 points, the last time with a pair of
Jessica Fontenette free throws with 6:02 to play, but USC eased away with a game-ending 14-5 run.
Senior guard
Stefanie Corgel led CSUMB with 13 points. Sophomore guard
Angelique Bailey added eight points and a team–leading three assists. Senior forward
Brittani Jefferson led the Otters on the boards with six rebounds.
Cassie Harberts led USC with a 32-point, 11-rebound double-double. Christina Marinacci chipped in a double-double of her own with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
CSUMB will get a chance to pick on somebody a little more its own size Saturday when the Otters conclude the exhibition portion of their schedule by hosting Menlo College in The Kelp Bed. The Otters will raise their 2012 CCAA Tournament Championship banner prior to the 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
