SAN MARCOS, Calif. – This week in Cal State San Marcos Athletics, women’s cross country’s Lisa Flora will compete at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships while men’s and women’s basketball face Humboldt State and UC San Diego at home.
Flora will compete in her second consecutive NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. (PST) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Men’s and women’s basketball will host Humboldt State at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday before taking on rival UC San Diego at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday at The Sports Center.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Nov. 29 – 5:30 p.m.
CSUSM (4-1, 1-0 CCAA) vs. Humboldt State (3-1, 1-0 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | HSU LIVE AUDIO | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
Saturday, Dec. 1 – 1 p.m.
CSUSM vs. No. 17/No. 21 UC San Diego (5-0, 1-0 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
PREVIOUS WEEK •The Cougars went 2-0 last week, recording wins over Point Loma (74-64) and Cal State East Bay (68-58).
•Sophomore Emma Forel tallied a season-best 23 points as CSUSM wrapped up its non-conference season against PLNU last Wednesday.
•The Cougars went 16-of-18 (89.0 percent) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to clinch their CCAA opener victory at East Bay on Saturday.
•CSUSM’s defense leads the conference with opponents shooting 25.9 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
•Forel ranks fifth in CCAA scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game.
•The Cougars made their D2SIDA West Region Media Poll season debut at No. 9.
CONFERENCE HOME OPENER VS. HUMBOLDT STATE •The Lumberjacks began their CCAA campaign with a 68-56 victory at Sonoma State on Black Friday.
•HSU’s lone loss was a 72-71 decision against Concordia (Ore.) on Nov. 20.
•Due to the wildfires in Northern California, HSU’s two games in the Notre Dame de Namur Tournament were cancelled for Nov. 17-18.
•CSUSM is 3-4 against HSU in the all-time series, splitting last season’s series with each team winning their home game.
• The Jacks are leading the CCAA in field goal percentage (46.0 percent) and 3-pointers made (31).
•Alexia Thrower ranks second in the CCAA with a 23.6 points per game and fifth in rebounds per game at 10.0.
•Madeline Hatch is 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from the 3-point line, ranking her No. 1 in CCAA.
No. 17/No. 21 UC SAN DIEGO BREAKDOWN •The Tritons came out of the gate strong in their CCAA opener, defeating Chico State 81-47 on Saturday.
•UCSD’s first two games of the season were played at The Sports Center as the Tritons earned victories over Simon Fraser (75-70) and Hawaii Pacific (76-64).
•UCSD has defeated the Cougars in all five games the two teams have played.
•UCSD is currently ranked No. 17 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll and No. 21 in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) poll.
•The Tritons are averaging a CCAA-high 78.8 points per game.
•Mikayla Williams is the CCAA scoring leader, averaging 23.6 points per game. She is also third in rebounding at 10.6 per game.
•UCSD remained at No. 3 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Media Poll.
THE JIMENEZ FILE •Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her fourth season in charge of the Cougar women’s basketball team, a program that is only in its eighth season of existence.
•In her eleven seasons coaching in the CCAA, Jimenez has compiled a 157-120 (.567) coaching record. She spent two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Nov. 29 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (3-4, 0-1 CCAA) vs. Humboldt State (3-3, 0-1 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | HSU LIVE AUDIO | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
Saturday, Dec. 1 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM vs. No. 19/No.13 UC San Diego (5-1, 2-0 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
PREVIOUS WEEK •The Cougars took an 84-79 loss to Azusa Pacific in their final non-conference game last Wednesday.
•Khalil Fuller tied for the 10th-most points in a single game in program history as he ended the game with 32 points and 15 rebounds.
•CSUSM opened CCAA play with a 91-62 loss at Cal State East Bay on Saturday.
•Darae Elliott posted his second consecutive double-double with 13 rebounds and 11 points against the Pioneers, and he is now tied for sixth nationally with three double-doubles for the season.
•JR Williams is currently tied for the most steals in Division II with 21.
•Fuller leads the CCAA with 128 total points, 58 total rebounds, 34 free throws made and 4.29 offensive rebounds per game.
CCAA HOME OPENER AGAINST HUMBOLDT STATE •The Cougars will welcome the Jacks to The Sports Center on Thursday night in their CCAA home opener.
•Humboldt opened CCAA play with a 69-66 loss at Sonoma State on Friday.
•Four of the Jacks’ six games have taken place in Canada, and they’re 0-2 in true road games so far.
•HSU is led by Justin Everett’s 16.5 points per game.
•The Cougars are 3-3 in the all-time series against the Jacks and own a 2-1 lead when playing at home.
•Both teams split the series last season as the Jacks earned a 81-78 win in San Marcos before the Cougars tallied a 74-70 victory in Arcata.
RIVALRY MATCHUP AGAINST UC SAN DIEGO •The Tritons are off to a hot start this season with an overall record of 5-1 and a CCAA record of 2-0.
•UCSD defeated Cal State San Bernardino 97-63 in its CCAA opener on Tuesday before picking up an 84-68 victory over Chico State on Saturday.
•The Tritons currently have four players in double figures with Christian Oshita and Chris Hansen leading the way with 19.5 and 19.2 points, respectively.
•UCSD is currently ranked No. 19 in the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) poll and No. 13 in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) poll.
•The Tritons are No. 1 in this week’s D2SIDA West Region Men’s Basketball Poll.
•CSUSM is 2-3 in the all-time series against UCSD and is 1-1 in home games against the Tritons.
•The Tritons took both games in the series last season by scores of 78-66 in San Marcos and 73-65 in La Jolla.
THE FOSTER FILE •Head coach B.J. Foster enters his third season in charge of the CSUSM Men’s Basketball program after taking over the head position in 2016.
•Under his leadership, the Cougars advanced to the CCAA Tournament for the first time in 2017-18 after finishing the season with a 15-7 conference record and a 20-9 overall record.
•Prior to becoming head coach of the Cougars, Foster was an assistant coach with the team from 2013 to 2016.
•Foster has tallied a career record of 41-23 (.641).
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday, Dec. 1
NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships
Pittsburgh, Penn. – Bob O’Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park
LIVE RESULTS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
RACE START TIMES
9:15 a.m. PST: Women’s 6K (Course Map)
THIS WEEK •Senior Lisa Flora will be making her second consecutive trip to the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
•Flora was CSUSM’s second runner to cross the line at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, helping the Cougars to a eighth place finish in their first year of NCAA Division II eligibility.
•Last year, Flora finished 50th out of 247 runners with a time of 21:54.1.
•The top 40 runners in the race will receive NCAA Division II All-American honors.
LAST OUTING •The women’s team took fifth at the NCAA West Regional Championships in Billings, Montana.
•Flora earned her second All-West Region honor after placing 12th among 180 runners.
