SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 12/18 Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (0-0) will open its 2022-23 campaign against Point Loma (0-2) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in The Sports Center before traveling to Washington for the 2022 West Region Crossover Classic this weekend. The Cougars will take on Seattle Pacific (0-0) on Friday at 11 a.m. before facing host No. 2/1 Western Washington (0-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bellingham.
COUGAR MADNESS WEEK
- Join the men's and women's basketball teams for U-Hour (12-1 p.m.) at Forum Plaza on Tuesday (Nov. 15) and Thursday (Nov. 17) for games and prizes.
- Prior to Tuesday's home opener, the Cougars will unveil their 2021-22 CCAA Regular-Season Championship banner in The Sports Center.
- The first 100 fans will receive free pizza (while supplies last).
LAST TIME OUT
- The Cougars did their final tune-up last Friday night with an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Loyola Marymount, falling to the Lions 62-51.
- Dynnah Buckner led the Cougars with 15 points with Kelsey Forrester chipping in 12 points.
HOME OPENER VS. POINT LOMA
- For the second consecutive season, the Cougars will begin their season against the Sea Lions of Point Loma.
- CSUSM defeated the Sea Lions, who were receiving votes in the D2SIDA National Poll, 75-62 last season in San Diego. Dynnah Buckner scored 20 points and Jordan Vasquez registered her first of 11 double-doubles with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
- The Cougars are 4-8 in the all-time series against PLNU and are 2-5 as the home team.
- CSUSM is on a three-game win streak against the Sea Lions that includes two victories in The Sports Center in 2018-19 (74-64) and 2019-20 (76-64).
- The Sea Lions opened their season last weekend at the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge hosted by Cal State San Bernardino. PLNU went 0-2 with a 81-63 loss against CSUSB on Friday before dropping a 72-51 decision to Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday.
- PLNU led 18-13 after the first quarter at CSUSB, but a strong second quarter put the Coyotes on top for good.
- Cal Poly Pomona held PLNU to just 32% shooting and an average of four field goals per a quarter on Saturday.
- Graduate forward Haylee Saurette is leading the Sea Lions in points (16.5) and rebounds (10.0) per game.
- PLNU's roster features eight returners including four starters from 2021-22, and five true freshmen.
- The Sea Lions graduated four-time All-PacWest selection (second team in 2021-22) Cara Liggins, who led PLNU in points(13.7), field goals (5.1), 3-pointer (3.3), rebounds (8.0) and blocks (1.0) per game.
- PLNU was voted to finish fifth in the 2022 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
| GAME 2 | SEATTLE PACIFIC |
| Date |
Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 |
| Time |
11 a.m. |
| Location |
Bellingham, Washington |
| Campus (Venue) |
Whatcom CC (Orca Pavilion) |
| Records |
CSUSM (0-0)
SPU (0-0) |
| Live Stats |
SideArm Stats |
| Live Video |
Youtube.com |
FRIDAY AGAINST SPU
- The Cougars hosted SPU in the 2021 CSUSM Hoops Classic, coming away with a 71-50 victory in their home opener.
- Kelsey Forrester led CSUSM with 18 points after going 6-of-7 from the 3-point line while Jordan Vasquez added 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
- Serving as the conference's tournament hosts, No. 7-seeded SPU fell 57-50 to No. 2-seeded Alaska Anchorage in the 2022 GNAC Quarterfinals.
- The Falcons finished last season ranked second in scoring defense, holding their opponents to 59.2 points per game, but finished dead last in the GNAC in scoring offense (59.0).
- Friday's game will be SPU's season opener as the Falcons have only played two exhibition games so far this season. After dropping an 87-51 decision at NCAA Division I University of Idaho on Oct. 30, SPU defeated NCAA Division III Pacific Lutheran 66-33 on Nov. 5.
- Fifth-year forwards Ashley Alter and Natalie Hoff were both named to the 2022-23 Preseason All-GNAC Team.
- Hoff is the top Falcon to return in 2022-23 as she finished the previous season averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals and a 43.9 field-goal percentage.
- After finishing 2021-22 with a 7-11 conference record, the Falcons were voted to finish seventh in the 2022 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
| GAME 3 | NO. 2/1 WESTERN WASHINGTON |
| Date |
Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 |
| Time |
11 a.m. |
| Location |
Bellingham, Washington |
| Campus (Venue) |
Whatcom CC (Orca Pavilion) |
| Records |
CSUSM (0-0)
WWU (0-0) |
| Live Stats |
SideArm Stats |
| Live Video |
Youtube.com |
REMATCH AT NO. 2/1 WWU
- In the first meeting between these two teams, the eventual 2022 NCAA Division II National Runner-Up Western Washington Vikings claimed a 78-73 victory over the Cougars in the 2021 CSUSM Hoops Classic finale.
- WWU dominated inside the paint in that game, outscoring CSUSM 44-26, but the Cougars scored 16 of their points off fast breaks compared to the Vikings' three.
- The Vikings won the GNAC Regular-Season Championship with a 10-4 conference record, but lost in the GNAC Tournament title game to Central Washington (57-46). WWU went on to win its next five games before falling in the national championship game to Glenville State (W.V.), 85-72.
- WWU conclude last season with a 25-6 overall record.
- The Vikings return 10 letterwinners and five players that made at least 12 starts last season.
- WWU's game against No. 21/14 Azusa Pacific on Friday afternoon will be the Vikings' season opener. On Nov. 4, the Vikings played an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Gonzaga where they fell 78-36.
- Led by 32nd-year head coach Carmen Dolfo, the Vikings have four players that landed on the Preseason All-GNAC squad, with junior forward Brooke Walling, senior guard Mollie Olson, senior guard Avery Dykstra and sophomore guard Riley Dykstra all earning preseason accolades.
- The Vikings were voted to repeat as the GNAC Regular-Season Champions in the 2022 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
CONFERENCE FAVORITE
- CSUSM was picked to finish first once again in the 2022-23 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
- The Cougars will start the new season ranked No. 12 in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll.
- Nine Cougars return for the 2022-23 season including All-CCAA first teamers Jordan Vasquez and Dynnah Buckner as well as second-team selection Kelsey Forrester.
- CSUSM adds three transfer, including sophomore Charity Gallegos (Chico State), redshirt junior Mina Tameilau (Cal State East Bay) and redshirt sophomore Malia Mastora (Seattle Pacific).
- Beginning their collegiate campaign in Cougar Blue this season are freshmen Tatum Tamashiro and Alina Tran.
THE JIMENEZ FILE
- Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her eighth season in charge of the Cougar women's basketball team, a program that is only in its twelfth season of existence.
- In 2021-22, Jimenez earned her third career and second consecutive CCAA Coach of the Year honor. She previously earned the award as the head coach at Cal State Monterey Bay during the 2010-11 season.
- With Jimenez at the helm, the Cougars clinched their second consecutive CCAA Regular-Season Championship
- After CSUSM's 2019-20 inaugural NCAA Division II West Regional appearance was cut short due to COVID-19, the Cougars were finally able to make their debut in the national tournament in 2021-22 as the No. 4 seed.
- The Cougars have advanced to the CCAA Tournament three times, making it to the semifinals in 2018-19 followed by back-to-back finals appearance in 2019-20 and 2021-22.
- Jimenez has compiled a 218-138 (.612) in her 14 seasons coaching in the CCAA, spending two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.
- In her seven seasons at CSUSM, Jimenez has tallied a record of 93-67 (.581).
