Saturday, Dec. 8
vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (3-1, 1-1 CCAA)
Pioneer Gym | Hayward
5:30 p.m.
Live stats

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Pioneer women's basketball team will face CCAA Tournament Champion Cal State Monterey Bay in their conference home opener on December 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers lost to the Otters, 46-43, in the opening round of the 2011-12 CCAA Playoff Tournament.

The Pioneers enter their CCAA home opener against Cal State Monterey Bay with a 1-1 conference record. East Bay is 3-3 for the season. Last weekend, the Pioneers won their CCAA opener over San Francisco State 46-38 and lost to Sonoma State 63-50.  After six games, the Pioneers are averaging 60 points, while allowing 55.5 points a game. East Bay is averaging 42.7 rebounds a contest. The Pioneers have allowed their opponents to shoot only 29.7 from the field and 23.6 percent from the three point area.

Micah Walker is the Pioneers leading scorer with an 11.8 point per game average. Walker is shooting a team-best 78.8 percent from the free throw line.  Lauren Lucchesi is averaging  11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. The Pioneers have the welcomed the return of senior Marlene MacMillan. In two CCAA games, MacMillan has averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Tori Breshers has come off the bench in all six games to average 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest. Rachel Finnegan continues to play a solid all-around game for the Pioneers with 43 rebounds, 14 assists, four blocks and 11 steals in six games. With only one CCAA game on Saturday, the Pioneers will have an extra day of practice before their game against Cal State Monterey Bay.

“An extra day to prepare can be a good thing, it all depends upon the focus of the team and energy level of the team,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “Monterey Bay has several new and talented players and so it allows the coaching staff a bit more time to watch game film.”

ZUMBATHON FOR MAKE-A-WISH
Pioneer Athletics has partnered with KO1 Fitness to host the Zumba for wishes Zumbathon on Dec. 8 at 4pm at Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Gym.  Fans of all fitness levels are invited to join Zumba instructor Claudia Lira and the crew of KO1 Fitness including East Bay's own former Olympian and Assistant Athletics Director Dawn Ellerbe for the Zumba for Wishes Zumbathon.  All fitness levels are welcome and will enjoy a fun-filled work out. Zumba is a dance fitness program that incorporates soca, samba, salsa, hip-hop and world beats into an easy to follow calorie-burning work out. 

The tickets for the event are $10 for general public and $5 for students.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the nation's largest wish granting organization giving hope strength and joy to children with life threatening medical conditions. Since 2009, the Pioneers Student Athlete Advisory Committee has raised over $10,000 for Make-A-Wish.

EYEING THE OTTERS
The CCAA Tournament Champion Cal State Monterey Bay Otters are 1-1 in CCAA play and 3-1 overall. The Otters suffered their lone defeat to San Francisco State 49-38 on December 1. Stefani Corgel leads the Otters in scoring with a 10.5 point per game average. Brittani Jefferson is averaging a team-best 7.3 rebounds a contest. Jessic Fontenette tops the Otters with 14 steals.    

“Monterey Bay is a proven championship program,” Barcomb said.  “Anyone playing the Otters must bring their best game in order to put themselves in position to win the game. They are deep and talented and have the ability to score in bunches.  As with most games in the CCAA, if you can't score you better be able to defend.”

Following their game against Cal State Monterey Bay, the Pioneers won't return to action until January 4 against Cal State L.A.