SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Before entering 2019, Cal State San Marcos Athletics will send its men's and women's basketball teams on the road to face Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday and Monday, respectively.
 
The Cougars will face the Golden Eagles at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday before going up against the Toros on Monday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.


WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Dec. 29 – 1 p.m. 
CSUSM (6-3, 3-2 CCAA) at Cal State L.A. (6-3, 3-2 CCAA)
Los Angeles – CSULA Gymnasium  
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
Monday, Dec. 31 – 1 p.m. 
CSUSM at Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-3, 2-1 CCAA)
Carson, Calif. – The Torodome 
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
PREVIOUS WEEK

• The Cougars entered the holiday break coming off a 70-68 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Dec. 19.
• Akayla Hackson went 5-of-8 from behind the 3-point line and finished with a season-high 18 points.
• Emma Forel tallied her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
• CSUSM ranks No. 2 in the CCAA with a 42.9 field goal percentage.
• Jon'Nae Vermillion ranked sixth in the conference in points per game (14.1) and No. 11 in rebounding per game (8.0).  

CAL STATE L.A. BREAKDOWN

• The Golden Eagles enter Saturday's game on a three-game win streak with wins over Cal State Dominguez Hills, Seattle Pacific and Cal State Monterey Bay.
• CSULA's two conference losses were to Cal State San Bernardino (52-74) and Cal State East Bay (51-53) on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1, respectively.
• The Golden Eagles are the CCAA leader and ranked No. 22 in the nation in blocked shots per game (4.6).
• CSUSM split the series with CSULA, falling 52-46 in L.A. before taking down the Golden Eagles 71-63 in San Marcos.
• Rachael DiRegolo leads the CCAA in blocked shots (16) and blocked shots per game (3.0)
• CSULA was picked to finish fifth in the CCAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.
   

CLOSING OUT 2018 AT CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS

• The Toros dropped a 75-65 contest at CSULA on Dec. 19.  
• CSUDH's two conference wins came on the road at Cal State East Bay (73-65) and Cal State Monterey Bay (70-48).  
• The Toros have the second lowest field goal percentage behind CSUMB in the CCAA at 36.2 percent.  
• The Cougars are 1-6 with the Toros in the all-time series and 1-3 in Carson. 
• Nautica Morrow is averaging 13.3 points and 2.7 steals per game.
• CSUDH was picked to finish seventh in the CCAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches 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 159-122 (.566) coaching record. She spent two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.

 
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Dec. 29 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM (3-8, 0-5 CCAA) at Cal State L.A. (7-4, 3-2 CCAA)
Los Angeles – CSULA Gymnasium  
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
Monday, Dec. 31 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM at Cal State Dominguez Hills
Carson, Calif. – The Torodome 
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
 PREVIOUS WEEK

• The Cougars took a 66-41 loss to No. 9 Cal Poly Pomona in the final game before the holiday break.
• Bryce Sloan led CSUSM with a career-high 18 points.
• Khalil Fuller continues to lead the conference with 3.55 offensive rebounds per game.

 
COUGARS IN L.A.

• CSUSM is 2-3 in the all-time series against Cal State L.A. and is 1-1 when facing the Golden Eagles on the road.
• Last year, the Cougars won 83-78 in Los Angeles before taking a 98-96 loss at home.
• CSULA has the second-best scoring offense in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) at 82.7 points per game.
• The Golden Eagles were picked to finish the season sixth in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Devin Means leads the team with 12.6 points per game.

 
NEW YEAR'S EVE AT DOMINGUEZ HILLS

• CSUSM will round out the 2018 calendar year by facing Cal State Dominguez Hills on Monday.
• The Cougars hold a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Toros and are 2-1 when playing in Carson.
• CSUSM won both of last year's meetings with CSUDH.
• Michael Chavers leads the Toros with 11.3 points per game.
• CSUDH was picked to finish eighth in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Toros have the third-best scoring offense in the league at 79.1 points per game, but they're giving up the second-most points per game at 80.5.

 
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 41-27 (.603).