January 23, 2010
Box Score
SEASIDE, Calif. – With four Otters in double-digits, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team pulled off a 59-54 upset over Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday night at the Kelp Bed.
CSUMB improved to 11-4 and 7-4 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action. Pomona, who was tied for first in the CCAA rankings, dropped to 12-3 and 9-2 in conference play. The Otters set a school record with the most conference wins in program history achieving this in the first part of the CCAA schedule.
"This was the first game we played a complete forty minutes on both ends of the court" said head coach #Renee Jimenez#. "Tonight's win was a complete team effort and I am very proud of our kids."
Senior #Helen Suarez# and junior #Michelle Santizo# led the Otters with 14 points each. Junior #London Houchin# recorded 12 points while classmate #Julie Heurung# added a team-high eight boards on top of ten points.
After five lead changes and two ties to begin the game, the Otter sailed ahead at the 12 minute mark on a free throw by junior #LaShawn Johnson#.
The Otters came out smooth of the final media timeout of the first half as Heurung grabbed the rebound of a Bronco missed shot and immediately threw it out to Johnson for the fast break. When she reached the paint, Johnson bounced passed it to freshman #Jessica Fontenette# who laid it up for the two points to make it 25-18.
CSUMB took a 31-25 advantage at the break.
The Otters largest lead of the night came on two made free throws by Houchin to make it 42-30 with 14:27 on the clock.
The Broncos came back with a 10-0 run, but a trey by Santizo got the Otters going again at 52-48 with two minutes remaining.
CSUMB made eight of their nine free throws to take the 60-54 victory.
The Otters won the battle of the boards, 37-33, while shooting 42.9 percent (9-for-21) from behind the three-point arc.
CSUMB held junior Reyana Colson, who was averaging 17.1 point a game and the third leading scorer in the conference, to just eight points. The Broncos were led by Stephisha Walton with 18 points.
"We did a great job controlling the boards against the best rebounding team in the conference," Jimenez said. "When we control the boards we can play our style of basketball, fast."
The Otters begin the second part of their CCAA season on Friday, Jan. 29 at Chico State. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.
