BOX SCORE
SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team never trailed in Saturday's homecoming night affair with Sonoma State, but that didn't mean there weren't a few anxious moments before Holly Holcomb's (Ventura/Buena HS) three–pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining capped a 54–51 victory in The Kelp Bed.
It was the seventh consecutive victory for CSUMB (13–3, 10–3 CCAA), which shot 51 percent from inside the arc (20–of–39), but was an anemic 1–of–16 from three–point range until Holcomb's bomb. Her game–winner defused a Sonoma comeback effort that saw the Seawolves rally from 15
points down inside the final 14 minutes to tie the game on a Travis Newman banked three–pointer
from in front of the Seawolf bench with 37 seconds remaining.
The Otters would have been forced to give Sonoma at least one more chance with a reasonable amount of time remaining, but a foul late in the ensuing Otter possession wiped out the
shot clock, allowing the Otters to run the game clock almost all the way down before Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) located Holcomb on the left wing and the junior forward found the bottom of the net for the game–winner.
Somewhat ironically, Holcomb's trey snapped an 0–for–15 streak from long range for the Otters, who hadn't converted a three–pointer since Corgel made CSUMB's first attempt just 3:25 into the first half.
Senior forward Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) made a short jumper on the game's opening possession and CSUMB never trailed. The Otters led by as many as 13 points in the first half (25–12) and by as many as 15 in the second (39–24) before Sonoma State made its late run.
Jefferson led all players with 14 points and 10 rebounds for her third double–double of the season. Corgel added five assists and senior guard Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) added to her CSUMB career record with four steals.
Kristina Fahey came off the bench to lead three players in double figures with 12 points for Sonoma State (5–13, 3–11).
CSUMB will take a break from doubleheader action to host Cal State East Bay Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in The Kelp Bed.
GO OTTERS!
