SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (0-6, 0-1 CCAA) will open CCAA play in The Sports Center this week, hosting No. 25 Cal Poly Pomona (5-1, 1-0 CCAA) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Cal State San Bernadino (1-5, 0-1 CCAA) on Saturday at 1 p.m. 
 
All fans who bring a new, unwrapped gift for the CSUSM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's toy drive will receive free admission.

LAST WEEK

• In their final exhibition game of the season, the Cougars dropped a 54-46 decision against UC Riverside on Tuesday, Nov. 26. 
• The Cougars opened CCAA action on Saturday, Nov. 30, falling in a 58-55 heartbreaker at Sonoma State. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Cougars are boasting a 74.7 (65-of-87) free-throw percentage, ranking fourth in the conference and 71st in the nation. 
• CSUSM is tallying 2.8 blocks per game, ranking fifth in the conference.
• The Cougars are averaging the second-fewest fouls per game at 15.8. 
• Destiny Okonkwo ranks fourth in the CCAA with 8.2 rebounds per game and 49 rebounds while ranking fifth with eight blocked shots.
• Rose Morse is shooting 83.3% (15-of-18) at the free throw line, ranking sixth in the conference. 

CCAA HOME OPENER 

• This will be the 16th time CSUSM and CPP have faced off against each other. 
• The Cougars hold a 9-6 lead in the all-time series with the Broncos and are 5-2 when playing in The Sports Center. 
• CSUSM has won seven of the last eight games against CPP. 
• The Cougars swept the season series last year with a 63-45 victory on the road on Jan. 13 followed by a 75-69 win in The Sports Center on Feb. 1. 
• After falling 75-50 in their season opener at then-No. 18 Azusa Pacific, the Broncos have put together a five-game win streak capped with a 62-49 victory at Cal State San Bernardino in their CCAA opener last Saturday. 
• CPP is the CCAA leader in free throws made per game at 15.17. 
• The Broncos are second in the conference with a 3.67 turnover margin and 15.5 turnovers per game while ranking third in steals per game at 10.3. 
• Sydney Nelson boasts the second-highest field-goal percentage in the CCAA at 52.6 while leading the Broncos at 14.0 points per game. 
• Kalaya Buggs is posting a 1.36 assist/turnover ratio, ranking third in the CCAA. 
• CPP was picked to finish second in the 2024-25 CCAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. 

SATURDAY MATINEE VS CSUSB

• Prior to facing CSUSM, the Coyotes will travel to Sonoma State on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game. 
• CSUSM is 11-3 in the all-time series against CSUSB.
• Currently on a nine-game win streak over the Coyotes, the Cougars are 4-2 when playing CSUSB in The Sports Center.   
• The Cougars completed a season series sweep in 2023-24, defeating the Coyotes on the road 75-41 on Jan. 11 before returning to The Sports Center for a 69-64 win on Feb. 3. 
• The Coyotes enter the week on a four-game losing skid that included losses to Westmont (70-66, OT), Dominican (74-58), Fresno Pacific (69-58) and then-No. 24 Cal Poly Pomona (62-49). 
• CSUSB's lone win of the season came on Nov. 9 when the Coyotes defeated Biola 63-60.
• The Coyotes have the worst fouls per game average at 20.0 in the CCAA. 
• CSUSB is averaging only 8.67 made free throws per game, the lowest in the conference. 
• The Coyotes have the second-best blocked shots per game average at 4.7. 
• Lauryn Morris has tallied a CCAA-best four double-doubles in the first six games, ranking sixth in Division II. 
• Jaida Jackson is the CCAA leader in assists (30) and assists per game (5.0). 
• CSUSB was picked to finish sixth in the 2024-25 CCAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. 

2024-25 OUTLOOK

• First-year head coach Jana Pearson takes over the reins of the CSUSM women's basketball program following a three-year stint as an assistant at Westmont. 
• The Cougars return six from last season's roster, including Kaitlyn Beall, Camille Johnson, Maddie Leiva, Rose Morse, Jade Ramirez and Tatum Tamashiro. 
• CSUSM has seven newcomers for 2024-25, including transfers Kate Bobadilla, Rory Hetrick, Lucca Lowenberg, Destiny Okonkwo, Lyric Richardson and Kacie Slover while welcoming true freshman Maria Grobushin. 
• The Cougars' 30-game slate includes two exhibition games, one at San Diego State and one at home against UC Riverside to go along with 12 home games and 16 road games in the regular season.
• CSUSM will host the CCAA Championships for the second time in program history. In 2016, the Cougars welcomed both the men's and women's conference tournaments in The Sports Center despite not being able to compete due to competing in their final year of the NCAA Division II transition. 

THE PEARSON FILE

• Jana Pearson became CSUSM's fourth coach in program history on June 20, 2024. 
• Pearson came to CSUSM from Westmont where she was the Warriors' assistant coach beginning in July 2021. 
• Prior to Westmont, Pearson was the assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado from July 2018 through June 2021. Pearson served as the post player coach that included the 2020-21 Big Sky Conference Player of the Year. 
• In four seasons at Vanguard, Pearson served as acting head coach in 40 games and helped the Lions to a 101-25 record with four NAIA National Tournament appearances that culminated in two Sweet 16s and one Final Four.
• Pearson worked at Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee in her first full-time assistant coaching position from August 2010 to June 2014.
• In her 14 years as an assistant coach, Pearson diligently recruited and coached four national players of the year, 18 All-Americans and over 80 scholar-athletes.
• Pearson earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics in December of 2007 from Harding University, where she was a member of the Harding women's basketball team for four years. While serving as a graduate assistant, Pearson graduated with a Master of Science degree in Counseling in 2010.