HAYWARD, Calif. -- For the second straight year, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team finished the regular season on a hot streak to earn a home playoff game in the first round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament. The No. 2 seeded Pioneers will host No. 7 Chico State on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

The game will feature raffle prizes, the music of DJ Quam, and a pre-game tailgate sponsored by ASI with free food at 5:30 p.m. outside Pioneer Gym. If you're not able to make it to campus, you can also tune in to CSUEB's live stream of the game.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW
CSUEB won six straight games and 11 of its last 12 to close the season. They finished one game behind UC San Diego for the regular season championship, but now they have their sights set on reaching their third straight CCAA championship game and capturing their second straight tournament title. 

To do so, they will have to get through Chico State, who they met just three days ago in their penultimate regular season game Friday night. East Bay won that contest 58-50, but it was tight the entire way as the Wildcats managed to get CSUEB's two best frontcourt players in foul trouble early. Remy Puou still posted 20 points on 10-for-13 shooting, and Shomari Harris and Kincso Kelemen scored 10 each as the Pioneers out-scored Chico 30-12 in the paint. 

On Saturday, East Bay celebrated their seniors before the game, then erased a double-digit first-half deficit to defeat Stanislaus State 72-65. Puou had one of the best games of her career with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Morgan Greene grabbed a career-high 17 boards. Harris scored 19 points in the win, much of which came at the free throw line late in the game. 

In that trio, the Pioneers boast three of the top statistical performers in the conference. A candidate for CCAA Most Valuable Player, Harris finished the regular season as the CCAA's leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, and she also ranks second in assists (4.3 apg). Greene ended up as the conference's top rebounder at 9.8 per contest. Puou ranks fifth in the league in rebounding (7.7 rpg), and her high scoring output over the final two weeks pushed her season average into double figures (10.4 ppg).

Although East Bay has a better record than Chico State, statistically the teams are fairly even. CSUEB outscores its opponents by 4.3 points per game, just ahead of Chico at 4.0 points per game. The Pioneers have a better rebounding differential and a slightly higher team field goal percentage, but the Wildcats commit fewer turnovers and hold opponents to a lower shooting percentage. 

Guard Whitney Branham is Chico's leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. She tallied 12 points on Friday in Pioneer Gym on four three-pointers, which were crucial in keeping the Wildcats in the game. Forward McKena Barker posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

They winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the semifinal round of the CCAA Tournament, which will be played Friday, Mar. 3 at 2:35 p.m. at the new event center on the campus of Cal State San Marcos. The championship game is scheduled for the following evening, with the winner of the CCAA Tournament earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II West Regionals. 

TICKETS
Cal State East Bay students, faculty, and staff can receive free admission to Tuesday's game by presenting their Bay Card. Below is the full breakdown of ticket prices:
General Admission: $8
Students w/ College ID: $2
Seniors (55 ): $5
Youth (ages 2-12): $5
Children under 2: Free

PARKING
All Cal State East Bay parking lots require permits to be displayed Monday-Thursday from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Permits may be purchased for $10/day or $2/hour at the self-serve kiosks located in Lots A, G, K, N, and at the top of Harder Road.