BOX SCORE

POMONA, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team earned more than a little respect Saturday night, staying undefeated in CCAA play by taking a heart-stopping 51-48 decision at No. 11 Cal Poly Pomona in Kellogg Gym.

The win increased CSUMB (10-1, 7-0 CCAA) win streak to eight games overall and 13 games in the California Collegiate Athletic Association dating back to last season. Cal Poly Pomona dropped to 9-2 and 5-2.

“As a team we talked a lot about how this was a respect game and a message-sending game,” said CSUMB Head Coach Renee Jimenez. “We stuck to our game plan. I thought it came down to a great scouting report by Coach (Tina) Samaniego and we executed it perfectly.”

Shonetta Crain-Williams (Oakland/El Cerrito HS) became the third Otter to post a double-double this season, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) added nine points, including two clutch three-pointers in the final minutes to turn the tide for CSUMB.
The game was close throughout with neither team leading by more than five points all night. Pomona held the early advantage but Crain-Williams caught fire off the bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the first half to help CSUMB grab a 26-25 lead at intermission. With the Otters entering the game having won 47 consecutive games when leading at the half, the Otters seemed to have the game in the bag, but they still had a lot of work to do.

Erika Ward (Simi Valley/Royal HS) hit her first three-pointer of the game to give the Otters a five-point lead at 34-29 early in the second, but a quick 8-0 run put Pomona back on top 37-34. The Broncos still led by four at 42-38 when a Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Quartz Hill HS) layup sparked the decisive CSUMB push.

Corgel followed with consecutive three-pointers, the second with 2:45 remaining giving the Otters a 46-42 lead. A Sarah Semenero jumper forged the seventh tie of the half at 46-46. But Ward answered with the biggest shot of the night, nailing a three-pointer to put the Otters up 49-46 with 54 second to play. They wouldn't relinquish the lead again.

““This is who we are. We're a defense team and we get our energy from that,” said Jimenez. “I thought Kris King, Shonetta and Brittani made things tough on Megan Ford. She's a great player and had to earn every shot she got tonight.”

The Otters will conclude their five-game road trip with a pair of big games next weekend. They'll play at Cal State San Bernardino Friday before a first-place showdown at No. 3 UC San Diego Saturday.

As always, you can follow all of the Otter action online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Rob Ponce will call the play-by-play.