SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team takes its final break from conference games this week, playing at Vanguard on Thursday before hosting Westmont on Saturday.
 
The Schedule
Game 12
Thursday, January 14 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (4-7, 3-5 CCAA) at Vanguard (9-3, 2-1 GSAC)
Costa Mesa, Calif. – The Pit
Live Stats | Live Video


Game 13
Saturday, January 16 – 6 p.m.
Westmont (14-1, 3-0 GSAC) at CSUSM
Oceanside, Calif. – MiraCosta College
Live Stats | Live Video
 
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Probable Cougar Starters
G – #1 Ashley Jenkins (Jr., 5-5): 12.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.4 rpg, 31.9 mpg
G – #3 Paige Barber (So., 5-3): 6.1 ppg, 1.0 spg, 31.9 fg%, 29.4 mpg
G – #15 Ashley Ontiveros (Jr., 5-7): 8.6 ppg, 1.2 apg, 37.0 3fg%, 31.2 mpg
F – #4 Savannah Camp (So., 5-10): 16.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 48.1 fg%, 26.7 mpg
F – #34 Brianna Higgins (Sr., 6-0): 1.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.8 apg, 20.7 mpg
 
Last Game Recap
The Cougars came from 13 points behind to overtake Cal State Monterey Bay, 62-51, to collect their third CCAA victory over the season on Saturday, Jan. 9 at MiraCosta College. Tied 48-48 with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, CSUSM held the Otters scoreless over the next five minutes and went on a 9-0 run in the process to take a commanding 57-48 lead with 54 seconds on the clock. Savannah Camp led the Cougars with a career-high 27 points in addition to her 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the 2015-16 campaign.
 
Rules Are A Changing in 2015-16
There are major changes in women's basketball this season. Games will now consist of four 10-minute quarters rather than two 20-minute halves. Teams will also now be awarded two free throws for each common foul beginning with the fifth team foul in each quarter.
 
Vanguard Preview
All-time vs. Vanguard: 0-7
 
Last Meeting vs. Vanguard: L, 52-70 (Jan. 20, 2015). The Cougars tallied a season-best 81.3 percent (13-of-16) at the charity stripe. Twenty-to-four turnover ratio proved to be the determining factor in the game.

Vanguard Breakdown: No. 12 Vanguard, a NAIA Division I institution from the Golden State Athletic Conference, are averaging 71.2 points per game while holding its opponents to a 60.9 average. The three losses the Lions have accumulated this season have been at the hands of top 15 NAIA ranked teams.
 
Westmont Preview
All-time vs. Westmont: 0-3
 
Last Meeting vs. Westmont: L, 54-79 (Nov. 25, 2014). A 48-19 gap at halftime proved to be too much for the Cougars against the Warriors. Westmont went on to compete in the NAIA Semifinals, falling to eventual NAIA Champion Oklahoma City.

Westmont Breakdown: The Warriors, also competing in the GSAC as an NAIA Division I school, have started the season strong by putting together a 14-1 record entering the week. Included in those wins is a 71-65 victory at NCAA Division II Azusa Pacific on Nov. 24. Four Warriors are averaging in double-digits in scoring with Aysia Shellmire leading the way at 13.0 points per game.
 
The Renee Jimenez File
Renee Jimenez took the helm of the CSUSM women's basketball program on May 22, 2015. She brings a wealth of knowledge as a head coach in the CCAA, compiling a 125-71 record in the past seven seasons. Jimenez spent the last two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino (2013-15) after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay (2008-13).
 
New Conference
Cal State San Marcos is in its first season competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The CCAA is made up of 12 CSU institutions and UC San Diego. The CCAA is one of the premier NCAA Division II leagues in the nation. Its teams have won more national championships (153) than any other NCAA Division II conference.
 
New Territory
After four seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015-16. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

CSUSM Athletics Social Media
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