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2013 WBB Notebook Graphic-Britnee Lewis
Vernon McKnight

Otters Ride 5-Game Win Streak Into Homecoming Week

| By: By Kevin Gilmore
Senior guard Britnee Lewis will make her final CSUMB Homecoming appearance when the Otters host San Francisco State and Sonoma State Feb. 1-2 in The Kelp Bed.

Otters open five-game homestand by hosting San Francisco State Friday





SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team returns to The Kelp Bed on a roll, riding a five-game winning streak into homecoming weekend action vs. San Francisco State (Friday) and Sonoma State (Saturday).

Saturday's men's/women's doubleheader with Sonoma are the official Homecoming games, but the fun runs all week long. CLICK HERE for the full calendar of CSUMB Homecoming 2013 festivities.

The weekend kicks off a five-game homestand that also includes match-ups with Cal State East Bay (Feb. 5), Cal State L.A. (Feb. 8) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (Feb. 9).

Tipofff Friday will be at 5:30 p.m. as the opener of men's/women's doubleheader action. Otters fans can listen and watch online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Veteran play-by-play man Kevin Richardson will call all of the action live from courtside.


SCOUTING THE GATORS (9–7, 6–6 CCAA): The Gators avoided their first three–game losing streak of the season by holding off pesky Cal State San Bernardino 52–42 Saturday night in The Swamp. Having said that, SFSU will be looking to put together just its second win streak of the season. The Gators won four in a row (starting with a win over CSUMB) from Dec. 1 through Jan. 4. Junior guard Angela Van Sickel leads three Gators scoring in double figures at 12.4 ppg. Sophomore forward Farrah Shokoor adds 11.9 points per game and is the team's top rebounder at 7.9 rpg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters put forward arguably their worst performance of the season, shooting 10 percent (2–of–20) from beyond the arc and committing 22 turnovers in a 49–38 loss at SFSU on Dec. 1. CSUMB still led 19–12 late in the first half when they missed 15 of their next 16 shots — including 12 in a row at one point — as the Gators embarked on a 25–2 run to take control. Junior forward Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa JC) grabbed a season–high 12 rebounds for CSUMB. Farrah Shokoor led all scorers with 15 points for SFSU.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters enjoyed a golden opportunity to rest their starters, racing to an early lead and never looking back in a 70–44 win over Cal State Stanislaus Saturday night in Turlock. All 14 Otters in uniform contributed, led by junior forward Nikki Powell (Eureka/Foothill College), who posted her first double–double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB), despite playing a season–low 16 minutes, still led all scorers with 14 points before halftime.

A THIEF IN THE NIGHT: Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) finally grabbed the brass ring, taking the career steals record from Dana Andrews (2006–09) in Jan. 12 win over Humboldt State. Fontenette now has 145 steals, eclipsing Andrews' mark by 12. Junior forward Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) currently ranks No. 8 on the list with 86.

ICE, ICE BABY: With apologies to Vanilla Ice (or to readers for the Vanilla Ice reference), the Otters have been more than cold, they've been ice ice cold shooting from beyond the arc recently. Going back to the Cal State Dominguez Hills game on Jan. 4, the Otters are 9–for–70 from long range (12.9 pct.) in regulation play. That includes an 1–for–13 night last night at Chico State. Excluding that stretch, the Otters have been the best three–point shooting teams in the CCAA at 36.7 percent.

HEATING UP: Hopefully, the Otter put an end to that streak with their performance at Cal State Stanislaus Saturday night. CSUMB was 11–of–25 from long range (44.0 pct.). The 11 threes match the Otter season high set in a win at Sonoma State on Nov. 30.

THE RESISTIBLE FORCE MEETS THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT: By the numbers, Friday's match–up certainly doesn't favor San Francisco State on paper. Not only have the Gators failed to score more than 60 points in 11 of their 16 games, the Otter defense has allowed opponents to reach 60 points in regulation just twice in 14 games.

THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: While the Otter long–range shooters may just be rediscovering their touch, the Otter defense as been as consistent as — for lack of a better comparison — the Otter defense. Entering Friday's game with San Francisco State, the Otters have held five consecutive opponents (9 of 14 on the season) under 50 points. Only two opponents have reached the 60–point plateau in regulation against CSUMB, and both came in Otter victories (79–63 vs. Academy of Art on Dec. 5 and 78–66 at Dominguez Hills on Jan. 4).

A MISLEADING RECORD: While Cal State L.A. did touch up the Otter defense for an opponent season–high 72 points, credit that total to the three overtimes and not the Golden Eagles' scoring prowess. The Otters held CSULA to 45 points in regulation, 53 points through the first overtime and 63 points through the second overtime.

DEFENSE IS BEST IN THE WEST: The Otter defense currently ranks No. 1 among NCAA Division II West Region school by allowing just 51.21 points per game. That number is also good for the No. 4 ranking among all NCAA Division II schools. That mark would rank No. 2 all–time in CSUMB history behind only the 2010–11 squad that led the nation by allowing just 51.19 ppg.

ON A ROLL: Saturday's win at Cal State Stanislaus was the fifth in a row for CSUMB, its longest of the season. It's CSUMB's longest streak since winning nine in a row from Dec. 12, 2011 through Jan. 13, 2012. It's the fourth winning streak of at least five games in CSUMB women's basketball history. All four of those streaks have come during the tenure of Renee Jimenez.

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 27 consecutive games when scoring at least 70 points, a streak they continued with their 70–44 win at Cal State Stanislaus on Jan. 26. In fact, CSUMB is 28–1 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.

WHY PLAY 40 MINUTES? Second halves have become all but irrelevant when the Otters lead at intermission under Renee Jimenez. CSUMB has won 64 of its last 66 regular season games in which it has led at halftime. In fact, under Jimenez, the Otters have a 70–3 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.

MUNSCH–ING ON THE URBAN KNIGHTS: Senior forward Gabby Munsch (Lodi/Cal State San Marcos) hit 10–of–14 from the field to match her career high with 21 points in CSUMB's Dec. 5 win over Academy of Art. It was CSUMB's first 20–point game of the season and its first since Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) dropped 20 on Cal State L.A. on Dec. 18, 2011. It's still the only 20–point game by an Otter this season.

BACK–TO–BACK DOUBLE–DOUBLES: Junior forward Ashley Morgan (Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa CC) and Brittani Jefferson each posted double–doubles the weekend of Jan. 4–5, with Morgan going for 10 points and 10 rebounds at Dominguez Hills and Jefferson getting 10 and 13 at CSULA. It marks just the third time in four seasons two different Otters have posted consecutive double–doubles. The last two to do it were Jefferson (14 & 10 at SFSU on Jan. 5, 2012) and Shonetta Crain–Williams (14 & 12 at Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 7, 2012).

In case you're wondering, the last time two Otters posted double–doubles in the same game came on Feb. 18, 2011 when Holly Holcomb had 10 & 10 and Julie Heurung had 20 & 10 in a 62–45 win over Sonoma State on Feb. 18, 2011.

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.

THAT GIRL GIVES A HAND: Jessica Fontenette matched her personal best with seven assists in the win over Academy of Art. That mark ties for the No. 8 spot in the CSUMB record book. Fontenette now has 170 career assists moving her two behind Andrea Hanshew for No. 3 on that list. Alma Lopez set the CSUMB standard with 206 assists from 2007–08.

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: One of the redshirts is a returning players: ophomore forward Mykayla Harris. She is joined on the redshirt list by junior wing Kayla Patton and freshman guards Victoria Dorn and Tyvette White.


GET ENTHUSE, EARN REWARDS

Hey Otter fans, want to earn rewards simply following your favorite CSUMB sports teams? Of course you do. Otter Athletics is partnering with Enthuse to allow you to do just that. All you have to do is visit the iTunes Store (iPhones) or play.google.com (Android) and download the FREE Enthuse app.

Once installed, search for “Monterey Bay Otters” to find your favorite CSUMB teams and you'll start earning points immediately. The more you follow the Otters, the more points you'll earn and the more free stuff you'll get. It really is that easy.

So download the Enthuse app and start earning your rewards today.





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