Thursday evening, CSUEB is attempting to pack 2,000 fans into Pioneer Gym and break the CCAA-era attendance record when the Pioneers take on Cal State San Marcos. The festivities will include a live DJ, a free ASI tailgate between games, and student raffle for a chance to take a half-court shot for $5,000 at halftime of the women's game. Be sure to get there by 5:30 p.m. to get your raffle ticket.

On Saturday night, East Bay will go up against first-place UC San Diego, the team that ended their season last year at the NCAA West Regionals, with tip-off set for the usual 5:30 p.m.

PIONEER POINTS
The Pioneers closed out 2016 on a high note and are coming off an extremely successful road trip last weekend. Last Friday, they jumped out to a huge first-half lead at Humboldt State and essentially put the game away in the third quarter. Six Pioneers scored in double figures -- a season high -- as Morgan Green scored 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting, Kincso Kelemen and Elayshia Woolridge both notched 13 points, Kayley Hsiung and Bri Guillory added 10 apiece, and Remy Puou posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. 

The following night, East Bay shot 47.4 percent from three-point range in an impressive 17-point win over a good Sonoma State team. The rookie Hsiung led the way going 3-for-5 from long distance and scoring a team-high 12 points. Defensively, the Pioneers tallied 11 steals and held the Seawolves to just 32.1 percent from the field.

With two more wins last week, Cal State East Bay finished the 2016 calendar year with a record of 24-9. Approximately half-way through the 2016-17 regular season, the Pioneers are tied for third place in the CCAA with their 4-2 league record, even with CSUSM and just one game behind UCSD. 

They rank third in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 62.9 points per game. On offense, they rank third in the CCAA in both field goal percentage (.423) and three-point shooting (.333). 

Led by a front court of Greene, Puou, and fellow senior Shontalene Trudeau, CSUEB has been one of the better CCAA teams on the glass throughout the season. They're out-rebounding opponents by an average of 4.8 per game, and individually Greene is the leading rebounder in the conference at 8.3 per contest.

SCOUTING SAN MARCOS
The Cougars, though not yet eligible for postseason competition, have one of the strongest teams in the league. Last week they split two games, losing by three to Cal State Dominguez Hills before defeating Cal State L.A. 77-68. CSUSM ranks last in the conference in rebound margin and second-to-last in field goal percentage. However, they're excellent at the free throw line (76.2 percent) and have committed by far the fewest turnovers in the league (13.6 per game). The Cougars have three players averaging in double figures, led by Savannah Camp (14.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg). Ashley Jenkins (11.5 ppg, 4.9 apg) is second in the league in assists.

SCOUTING UCSD
The Tritons tied CSUEB for the CCAA regular season crown last year and are off to a hot start to 2016-17 despite graduating two All-CCAA players. They have won five straight since falling on the road to Cal Poly Pomona just after Thanksgiving. UCSD is the highest scoring team in the CCAA, shooting 42.7 percent from the field and out-scoring opponents by 7.7 points per game. They also lead the league in three-pointers and rebounds per game. Point gaurd Taylor Tanita (9.7 ppg, 6.0 apg) leads the conference in assists, while Cassie MacLeod (11.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) has been one of the top forwards in the CCAA.