CSUMB women's basketball

CSU-Monterey Bay Otters (3-8, 0-4)
 Don't be discouraged by the Otters recent six game losing streak. Four of those losses have been by six points or less, with the last two setbacks being by a combined three points.
 And while CSUMB will have to wait until after Christmas to go after its first conference basketball win, it can build off two nailbitting losses.
 "This is what the early season is about,'' CSU-Monterey Bay women's coach Kerri Nakamoto said. "We're still trying to figure out the best way to play together with the new players we've added.''
 Of course, time doesn't wait as the Otters are 0-4 in conference play, and 0-5 on the road this winter. Dating back to last year, they are just 2-15 on the road.
 "We went on a good string of wins in the preseason,'' said Nakamoto, now in her fourth season with the Otters. "But we haven't been able to pull one out in conference yet.''
 Part of the Otters struggles stems from not having the entire team healthy at any point in the season. As a result, the chemistry hasn't always been there on the hardwood.
 "It has been a struggle trying to integrate players in and out of the lineup,'' Nakamoto said. "We have really tried to focus on the areas we have been getting exposed in and improving these things.''
 After three straight non-conference wins by an average of 17 points a game, the Otters have dropped six straight -- four on the road. Part of it is learning on the fly, according to Nakamoto.
 "Each players role has been more clearly defined for them,'' Nakamoto said. "We have focused on showing them where they can be most effective, so we can be a more efficient unit.''
 One individual, whose role needs no defining is Seaside High grad Victoria Dorn, who went into the break ranked among the elite in the nation in Division II in 3-point goals.
 The 5-foot-6 Dorn has buried 45 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, converting on 45 percent of her attempts.
 Dorn, who was The Herald's Basketball Player of the Year at Seaside 2012, is averaging a team and career high 14.8 points a game for CSUMB.
 "Tori has worked really hard to expand her game,'' Nakamoto said. "She really focused on her ability to get to the basket when people take away the outside shot, making her more of a threat.''
 One of only two players to start all 11 games for the Otters, Dorn hasn't missed a free throw this year and is averaging nearly two assists a game.
 "Our team knows we want to get her good looks,'' Nakamoto said. "That is a focus, to look for her on penetration and set good screens to get Tori open. She's confident in her ability to hit shots.''
  Opponents can't put their emphasis completely on shutting down Dorn, not with 5-11 McKenna Hill providing a presence in the paint.
 The senior, who began the season No. 3 on the Otters all-time scoring list, is averaging just under 12 points and a team high 7.8 rebounds
"We have more scoring options this year, which doesn't allow people to completely focus on taking Tori out of the game,'' said Nakamoto, whose squad has improved in the win column in each of the last two years.
 That includes sophomore guard Brianna Tucker, who is averaging just under eight points a game, and junior Aubri Smith, a two-time all-state forward at Ventura Junior College.
 Smith leads the team in assists at 4.8 and is averaging 7.2 points, while Courtney Keaton is second on the team in rebounds.
  "Moving forward, we are cleaning up our execution on offense to get the best shots available for our specific players,'' Nakamoto said. "Defensively, we're focusing on not allowing so many easy baskets.''