SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The RV Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team (17-4, 14-2 CCAA) took care of business on Thursday night, recording a 68-56 win over Cal State Monterey Bay (4-17, 2-14 CCAA) in The Sports Center.
TOP PERFORMERS
Mina Tameilau – 23 points | 7 rebounds | 1 assist
Charity Gallegos – 17 points | 4 assists
Truitt Reilly – 14 rebounds | 9 points | 1 steal
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars ended the first quarter with a 17-12 lead over the Otters.
CSUMB took its first lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Sha’nece Garrett at 8:32 of the second quarter that made it 20-17.
CSUSM took a 39-30 lead into the halftime break after shooting 41.9% (13-of-31) in the first 20 minutes.
The first half consisted of six ties and four lead changes with CSUSM on top for 13:19 and CSUMB for 1:41.
The Cougars opened the second half with an 11-2 run, pulling away to 50-32.
CSUSM finished the third quarter, outscoring the Otters 22-5 to take a 61-35 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
The CSUSM defense held the Otters to just 15.4% (2-of-13) from the field in the fourth quarter.
CSUSM took its largest lead of the game at the 9:19 mark of the fourth quarter when Natalie Nicolosi drove in for a layup that made it 63-37.
The Otters attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cougars 21-7, but CSUSM’s lead was too great to overcome.
FAST BREAK
The Cougars continue to sit in first place in the CCAA standings with a two-game lead over second-place Chico State.
Tameilau’s 23 points were one shy of her CSUSM single-game record.
CSUSM matched its season-low turnover total at 10 set at Chico State (Jan. 25).
The Cougars led for 83.3% of the game while the Otters were on top for just 4.2%, all in the first half.
CSUSM got 32 points in the paint to CSUMB’s 26.
Both teams finished with 17 second-chance points, 40 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Cougars scored 19 points off CSUMB’s 18 turnovers.
The Cougars remain undefeated at home against the Otters at 7-0 while improving their all-time series lead to 13-2.
CSUSM collected its fourth season series sweep after defeating CSUMB 80-54 in Seaside earlier this season.
Head Coach Renee Jimenez says tonight’s standout peformance goes to everybody on the team! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/y5gIz30btu
– CSUSM Women’s Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) February 9, 2024
UP NEXT
The Cougars will conclude their 2023-24 home campaign on Saturday, hosting Stanislaus State at 1 p.m.
