Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's basketball team lost their CCAA home opener to Cal State Monterey Bay, by the score of 51-38 on Saturday.

With the defeat, the Pioneers stand at 1-2 in CCAA play and 3-4 for the season. Cal State Monterey Bay improves to 2-1 in the CCAA and 5-1 overall.

East Bay was held to a season-low 38 points. The Pioneers continue to play well on defense, holding the Otters, who are averaging 64 points a game, to 51 and a 32.7 shooting percentage from the floor. No Otter player scored in double figures.

“We continue to struggle offensively,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said.  “We ran our sets well, got great looks and couldn't connect. We got to the free throw line and couldn't connect from there either.  We are not going to defeat the CCAA tournament champion scoring 38 points.” 

The Pioneers were led in scoring by Micah Walker with nine points. Cassie Coble followed Walker with seven points, while Lauren Lucchesi was the Pioneers' leader on the boards with nine rebounds.  Marlene MacMillan came off the bench to block two shots.

Stefanie Corgel and Nikki Beckman each scored eight points for the Otters.

The Pioneers played good defense in the first half, as they held the Otters to 21 points and a 30 percent shooting percentage from the field. East Bay had some good looks at the basket, but was 4 of 22 from the field.

Sarah Finlay came off the bench, to convert a basket and a three-pointer, putting the Pioneers ahead 8-7 with 15:03 left.

Cal State Monterey Bay went on a 9-4 run the following 11 minute to take a 16-12 lead. Corgel's three- point play and Beckman layup with 52 second remaining, propelled Cal State Monterey Bay to a 7-point halftime lead.

The Otters increased their lead to 25-15 with 18:31 remaining in the game.

East Bay battled back with an 8-0 run highlighted by a pair of Nia Bravo baskets, to trim the Otters' advantage to 25-23 with 13:41 left.

Cal State Monterey pulled away the following six minutes with a 16-3 run. East Bay came within nine points with 4:36 remaining on a Coble basket. The Otter would take advantage of the free throw line the remaining four minutes to earn the victory.

“We defended incredibly well at times, especially the three-point line,” Barcomb said.  “MB had several players shooting well from the 3-point line. Key break-downs hurt us in the end.  I thought we gave up mentally and didn't battle back when MB made their big run.”

Cal State East Bay will return to action on January 4 at Cal State L.A.  “The next two weeks will be very important for us as we will work to move forward and try and figure out who we want to be as a team and the best way to get there,” Barcomb said.