SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 24/16 Cal State San Marcos women's basketball led wire-to-wire while shooting 50% from the field to clinch a 73-48 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Emma Forel – 14 points | 7-of-11 FG | 11 rebounds
Stephanie Custodio – 11 points | 3 rebounds | 2 assists
Dynnah Buckner – 11 points | 3 rebounds | 1 blocked shot
Kelsey Forrester – 7 points | 2-of-2 3FG
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM got off to a hot start, finishing the first quarter with a 21-12 lead after shooting 53.8% from the field.
• The Cougars went on their best run of the game at 10-0 in the second quarter for a 36-15 cushion.
• CSUSM took a 45-21 lead into halftime with Forel leading the Cougars with 12 points and eight rebounds.
• In the first half, the Cougars shot 62.5% (15-of-24) from the field while holding the Otters to 20% (6-of-30).
• CSUSM took its largest lead of the game at 66-32 on a jumper by Jon'Nae Vermillion at the 8:14 mark in the fourth quarter.

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM improves to 11-2 (6-2 CCAA) while the Otters drop to 3-8 (3-6 CCAA).
• The Cougars' 25-point win was their largest-ever margin of victory in the NCAA Division II era. The previous record was a 23-point win (86-63) occurring against the Otters on Feb. 15, 2017, in The Sports Center.  
• With the win, CSUSM now holds a 6-2 lead in the all-time series and remains undefeated at 4-0 at home.
• The Cougars shot 50% or higher for the third time this season after going 22-of-44 from the field.
• CSUSM's defense held the Otters to just 21.9% field goal percentage, the Cougars' best performance of the season.
• Forel snagged her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• CSUSM won the battle of the boards at 41-38, but the Otters had an offensive rebound advantage at 17-5.
• Twenty-eight of CSUSM's 73 points came in the paint while shooting 42.9% (6-of-14) from behind the arc.

 

Head Coach Renee Jimenez talks about the importance of today's game in terms of finding momentum. #BleedBlue #goCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/ZCefdGBoX6

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) January 4, 2020

Senior guard Stephanie Custodio chats about the team's goal for playing hard the entire 40 minutes with a strong start.#BleedBlue #GoCCAA #NCAAd2 pic.twitter.com/qutlIO0wbP

— CSUSM Women's Basketball (@CSUSM_WBB) January 4, 2020

UP NEXT
The Cougars hit the road next week with their first stop at Humboldt State on Thursday. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.