THE WEEK AHEAD: The 'Runners hit the road to begin their final foray away from Bakersfield this weekend. The four–game trip begins at CCAA co–leader UC San Diego Friday (Feb. 16). Saturday (Feb. 17) will see the 'Runners in Carson to take on NCAA Regional hopeful Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Both games will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. as the openers of men's/women's doubleheader action.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: In two words: Potentially, everything. The winner of Friday's meeting between the 'Runners and Tritons will emerge as odds–on favorite to finish first in the CCAA this season.

For its part, Cal State Dominguez Hills stumbled against Sonoma State last week and, while not in a must–win situation, can ill–afford many more losses if it hopes to return to the NCAA Division II Tournament field after a one–year absence.

TICKET INFO: Advance single game tickets for Roadrunner Basketball are on sale now. For more information, call (661) 654–BLUE or visit us online at www.gorunners.com.

ON DECK: The 'Runners will conclude their four–game road trip next week at a pair of schools (Humboldt State, Sonoma State) still in the thick of the NCAA Division II Tournament race. Following those games, the 'Runners return to the Icardo Center to play the final CCAA games in their short-but-illustrious conference history.

UC SAN DIEGO TRITON NOTES (18-3, 14-2 CCAA)
The Tritons were ranked No. 18 in Division II last week but are likely to move up in this week's poll following 3 wins and a Chico State loss …Sr. F Leora Juster continues to lead the CCAA in scoring (23.1 ppg) and ranks No. 4 nationally…Sr. F Hilary Hansen is No. 8 in the CCAA at 14.2 ppg…Hansen adds a team–best 7.5 rpg.

SERIES HISTORY: CSUB leads 9–4…CSUB leads the series in RIMAC Arena, 5–1…The teams split last season, with each winning on the road…UCSD took a 72–61 decision on Jan. 13 behind 25 points from Michelle Osier…Kelley Tarver led the 'Runners with 15 points in that game.

LAST 10 MEETINGS
2007 UCSD 72, @'RUNNERS 61
2006 'RUNNERS 80, @UCSD 72
2006 UCSD 101, @RUNNERS 91 (ot)
2005 @'RUNNERS 71, UCSD 60
2005 @UCSD 73, 'RUNNERS 59
2004 'RUNNERS 68, @UCSD 54
2004 @'RUNNERS 79, UCSD 61
2003 @'RUNNERS 85, UCSD 57
2003 'RUNNERS 73, @UCSD 51
2002 @'RUNNERS 77, UCSD 59

CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS TORO NOTES (11-9, 8-8 CCAA)
The Toros were in prime NCAA Tourney position at 10–6 before dropping 4 of their last 5…on the plus side, 5 of their last 6 opponents are in the bottom half of the CCAA standings…CSDH allows just 59.8 ppg, but scores just 62.5 ppg…Jr. G Brigayle Iglehart leads a balanced offense at 11.2 ppg…Jr. F Alana Bailey adds 10.3 ppg.

SERIES HISTORY: CSUB leads 10–3…CSUB leads the series in Carson 4–2…The 'Runners led wire-to-wire in a 69–54 win on Jan. 12 in Rabobank Arena…Jessi Loring led the 'Runners with a game–high 20 points in that win…So. C Ennisha Kyles led the Toros with 12 points.

LAST 10 MEETINGS
2007 @'RUNNERS 69, CSDH 54
2006 CSDH 98, @'RUNNERS 93++
2006 'RUNNERS 78, @CSDH 74
2005 @CSDH 88, 'RUNNERS 82
2005 @'RUNNERS 67, CSDH 55
2004 @'RUNNERS 76, CSDH 44
2004 'RUNNERS 82, @CSDH 69
2003 'RUNNERS 85, @CSDH 48
2003 @'RUNNERS 61, CSDH 40
2002 @CSDH 67, 'RUNNERS 61
++Double Overtime

WHAT ARE THE ROADRUNNERS? With the Roadrunners beginning their four–year transition to full NCAA Division I status this season, a common question that comes up is, “what division are the 'Runners?”

For this season (and the next three) CSUB is considered an NCAA Division I institution. Because the 'Runners are not playing a full Division I schedule in 2006–07, however, they are not an RPI counter against Division I opponents this season. They already count as an NCAA Division I opponent when playing DII, DIII and NAIA members.

The 'Runners are scheduled to become NCAA Division I championship eligible beginning in the 2010–11 season.

WIN STREAK HITS NINE: With three wins last week, the 'Runners upped their longest win streak of the season to nine games. They now have accomplished the exceedingly rare feat of posting at least one five–game (or better) winning streak in all seven seasons of their existence.

This is the third–longest winning streak in 'Runner women's basketball history. It also marks the 14th time in less than seven full seasons of women's basketball in Bakersfield that the team has won at least four games in a row.

WEAR YOUR OVEN MITTS FRIDAY NIGHT: The two hottest teams in the West Region will battle for CCAA supremacy Friday night when the 'Runners travel to meet UC San Diego. The 'Runners enter the game winners of nine consecutive contests (in fact, they haven't lost since their last meeting with UCSD). The Tritons, meanwhile, have won eight straight since a Jan. 19 loss to Cal State San Bernardino.

TAMING THE WILDCATS: The 'Runners exacted a bit of revenge on Chico State for knocking them out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament with an 83–50 drubbing Thursday in Rabobank Arena. It marked the second time in four games that the 'Runners beat Chico by more than 20 points.

TWO MORE WIRE–TO–WIRE WINS: The 'Runners picked up two more wire-to-wire wins (that is, they never trailed after scoring the first point of the game) in defeating Cal State L.A. and Cal State Stanislaus last week. That brings their total for such victories to an impressive nine wins this season.

'RUNNERS REACH THE CENTURY MARK AGAIN: The 'Runners surpassed the 100–point plateau (103, to be exact) for the third time this season (and the second time in a week) in Thursday's 103–60 win over Cal State Stanislaus. They have cracked the century mark at least once in six of their seven seasons of existence (the 2004 CCAA Champion 'Runners are the lone exception). The 'Runner record for 100–point games in a season stands at six (2003).

DOUBLE THE FUN: Forward Florida Siaosi (Hesperia/Sultana HS) continues to play like anything other than the true freshman that she is. After going for 27 points and 15 rebounds (in just 26 minutes) versus Cal State Stanislaus and for 17 points and 15 boards versus Chico State last weekend, Siaosi owns a CSUB freshman–record seven double–doubles on the season.

Siaosi has now posted at least 17 points and 15 rebounds in three of her last five games. During that stretch, she is averaging 15.8 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.

TORRID TARVER: After a midseason slump, sophomore forward Kelley Tarver (Valencia HS) is has been on fire in recently. In addition to scoring a season–high 23 points in Saturday's win over Cal State Stanislaus, Tarver is averaging 18.7 points, 5.0 assists and 5.3 steals per game over her last three games.

CALLING ALL MATH MAJORS: On second thought, forget the math majors anD bring in a Cray supercomputer to tally the scoring expected to take place when the 'Runners and Tritons meet Friday night. The game will feature a battle of the CCAA's two highest–scoring teams: CSUB (75.9 points per game) and UCSD (74.3 ppg).

For the record, the 'Runner and Triton offenses also rank 1–2 in the West Region.

THE IT COMES AS LITTLE SURPRISE DEPARTMENT: In addition to ranking 1–2 in scoring, the teams also rank 1 (CSUB, .751)–2 (UCSD, .750) in free throw percentage and 1 (UCSD, .457)–2 (CSUB, .436) in field goal percentage in the CCAA .

ROADRUNNER BASKETBALL: A Championship Tradition
The 2006–07 season marks the seventh anniversary of Roadrunner women's basketball. The 'Runners have won an incredible 157 games against just 39 losses (.801).

More than just winning games, 'Runner basketball is about winning championships. Bakersfield has two CCAA titles and one NCAA West Region title. The 'Runners are the only team in NCAA history—men's or women's at any level—to reach the NCAA Tourney every season of their existence.