CSUDH Women’s Basketball Moves Up to No. 4 in Western Region
Bailey, Blue and Blankenship lead a balanced Toro attack
January 26, 2005

Carson, CA -- The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team, on the heels of five-consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victories, has moved up two spots to No. 4 in the NCAA Regional rankings, it was announced this afternoon by the NCAA.

Led by junior Tameka Blue (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) and freshmen sensations Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS) and Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS), the Toros sit atop highly-competitive CCAA, sporting a 9-5 overall and 7-1 conference mark. Bailey, in her first campaign on the Carson campus, is averaging team-high totals of 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest, shooting a solid 53.6% from the field. Blue, in her third year in Cardinal Red & Gold, is averaging 11.9 ppg, excelling with a .406 shooting percentage from the floor and .411 from behind the three-point line, while Blankenship rounds out the balanced attack with 10.5 point and 5.1 rebound per game averages, the latter good for second-best on the squad.

As a trio, Bailey, Blue and Blankenship have combined for 53% of the scoring and 37% of the rebounds. Just last weekend, the Toros swept UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino in key CCAA matchups, after upsetting then No. 24-ranked Chico State at Chico on January 15.

Eight teams per region quality for the postseason, at which time pairings, locations and times will be announced.

This season’s rankings mark the first time since 1998 that CSUDH has been ranked among the region’s elite. The complete West Region follows, and also can be found at the NCAA Website.

CSUDH hosts Cal Poly Pomona tonight for a mid-week showdown before traveling to Seaside to battle CCAA-newcomer Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday. Tonight’s first tip is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start in the Torodome.

      WEST REGION                         REGION  OVERALL
1.    Seattle Pacific                       12-0    15-1
2.    Western Washington                    11-1    15-1
3.    Cal State Bakersfield                  8-2    12-3
4.    Cal State Dominguez Hills              9-1     9-5
5.    Cal State Chico                       11-3    12-3
6.    St. Martin’s                           6-2    11-4
7.    Cal Poly Pomona                        8-3    11-4
8.    Cal State San Bernardino               6-4    10-5
9.    Montana State-Billings                 7-4    13-4
10.   UC San Diego                           6-4     8-7