HAYWARD, Calif. -- With final exams behind them, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team returns to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule this week and hits the road south to continue its title defense. The Pioneers visit Cal Poly Pomona Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.

With its 2-0 conference record, CSUEB is one of four remaining unbeaten teams in CCAA play. They have played the majority of their schedule thus far away from Pioneer Gym, posting a 3-2 record in road games. 

After their trip to Pomona, the Pioneers return home to host Cal State L.A. on Monday for "Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day" at Pioneer Gym. That game has an early start time, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.

WEEK IN REVIEW
This young East Bay squad got a taste for what it's like to compete against the top teams in the nation last Saturday when they traveled to Riverside to take on No. 10 ranked California Baptist. The Lancers showed why they're the eighth-highest scoring team in all of Division II, defeating the Pioneers 101-73 behind 32 points from All-American Cassidy Mihalko.

But there were positives from the trip, as well. The Pioneers hung tough in the second half and shot 45.5 percent over the final 20 minutes to cut into their early deficit. They also racked up 10 steals and nearly equaled CBU in total rebounds (42-39). 

PIONEER POINTS
Senior newcomer Shomari Harris had an outstanding afternoon against the Lancers, tallying 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting with six assists and six rebounds. The Oakland native has reached 20 points in three straight games and now leads the CCAA in scoring by a comfortable margin at 17.4 ppg. Harris also ranks second in the conference in minutes (35.0), third in field goal percentage (.454), fourth in assists (4.2 apg) and seventh in steals (2.0 spg). 

Sophomore Bri Guillory returned to action against Cal Baptist after missing five games with an injury. She scored 11 points and has now notched double figures in all four games she's played this year, averaging 14.8 ppg. 

Redshirt freshman Morgan Greene had a season-high 12 rebounds last Saturday, vaulting her to the top of the CCAA leaderboard at 8.9 boards per game. She has reached double figures five times this season. 

As a team, East Bay's stats took a bit of a hit down in Riverside, particularly on defense. But they still rank fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (.417), lead by Harris, Remy Puou (.500) and Shontalene Trudeau (.471). The Pioneers also rank fourth in rebound margin (+5.6), with Greene and Puou (7.2 rpg) both among the top six in the league individually. 

BREAKING DOWN THE BRONCOS
Cal Poly Pomona fell in overtime to Cal State San Marcos on Saturday after opening conference play impressively the previous weekend with wins over UC San Diego and SF State. The Broncos lead the CCAA in scoring defense (577 ppg allowed) and rebound margin (+9.6). They're also the second-best three-point shooting team in the league at 34.9 percent. CPP is paced by its front court, specifically Chelsea Waddy-Blow (11.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 59.3 FG%) and Priscilla Brooks (8.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 50.8 FG%). Cal State East Bay has won four straight games against Pomona, and the Pioneers have captured eight of the last 12 meetings dating back to 2011.

GAUGING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
The Golden Eagles swept Humboldt State and Sonoma State in the first weekend of conference play, then fell on the road to Seattle Pacific and Central Washington in conference action last weekend. CSULA is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and opponents are out-scoring them by 6.0 points per game. Forward Rikki Fabricius is the team's leading scorer and rebounder (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rog, 47.0 FG%), while guard Christine Delapina is among the league leaders in assists (8.1 ppg, 4.4 apg). The Pioneers have won three straight games against the Golden Eagles, although both meetings last season were tight, with CSUEB winning by two points in Los Angeles and hanging on in overtime in Hayward.