UP NEXT: The Roadrunner women's basketball team continues its four-game homestand Thursday night by Western Athletic Conference member San Jose State in the Icardo Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

TICKETS, PLEASE: Tickets information for all Roadrunner women's basketball games may found online at www.gorunners.com. For ticket package and group ticket information -- or to purchase tickets by phone -- call the CSUB Athletics Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE.

LIVE STATS WEBCAST: If you can't get to the game, follow the action with real-time live stats via the JumpTV Game Watcher at www.gorunners.com. Choose "Live" from the navigation menu on the left side of the page.

SPARTAN NOTES: The Spartans have struggled in the early going but enter Thursday's game off a 59?55 win at Cal State North-ridge...4 of their 6 losses have come by 4 points or less...Jr. G Natalie White has led the team in scoring in 5 of 7 games...she is the only Spartan scoring in double figures at 16.6 ppg...So. F Brittany Powell scored a team season?high 23 points in a 75?74 OT loss to Pacific.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first?ever meeting between the Roadrunners and Spartans in women's basketball.

HOME SWEET HOME: Monday's loss to The Masrer's College was a rare defeat for CSUB in the Icardo Center. The Roadrunner women are now 23?3 all?time in the building. They have won six of their last seven Icardo Center games dating back to the 2004?05 season.

The 'Runners already are 2?1 this season in the Icardo Center, where they will play all 12 homes games in 2007?08.

ARASE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS: Junior guard Krista Arase (Alhambra/Keppel HS) is enjoying her first season of full NCAA Division I competition from a statistical standpoint. Arase entered the week among the national leaders in two statistical categories. Through six games, she ranked 14th at 6.4 assists per game and 23rd at 3.4 steals per game.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... As an NCAA Division II school the 'Runners consistently ranked among the highest scoring teams in the nation. Well, the more things change the more they stay the same. CSUB entered the week ranked 32nd nationally in scoring offense at 75.5 points per game. That average increased to 77.7 ppg after scoring 92 points Monday night.

THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST: In addition to a potent offense, the 'Runners have been almost equally well known for a traditionally tenacious defense. They are keeping that tradition alive by averaging 11.5 steals per game, good for the No. 45 spot in this week's NCAA Rankings.

'RUNNERS AMONG THE INDEPENDENT LEADERS: Krista Arase headlines the list of Roadrunners ranked among the NCAA Division I independent leaders in 2007?08. Arase tops the charts in both assists (6.4) and steals (3.4) per game. She also entered the week ranked No. 5 in free throw percentage (.780) and No. 7 in scoring (15.3 ppg).
Junior guard Kelley Tarver (Valencia HS) ranks No. 4 in scoring (17.5 ppg) and No. 7 in steals (2.3 spg). Naomi Johnson (Oxnard College) checked in at No. 8 in rebounding (6.3 rpg), No. 9 in blocks (0.7 bpg), No. 10 in free throw percentage (.737) and No. 14 in scoring (10.8 ppg).

Junior guard Christine Kepenekian (Burbank HS) also made the cut in multiple categories, checking in at No. 10 in steals (2.0 spg) and No. 11 in scoring (13.3 ppg).

JOHNSON ON THE REBOUND: Senior forward Naomi Johnson led all California junior college rebounds as a sophomore in 2005. She obviously hasn't lost her touch as evidenced by her career?high 14?rebound performance Monday night versus The Master's College. Johnson's efforts helped CSUB amass a season?high 48 rebounds in the game.

IT'S ALL THE SAME TO HER: There's a ball, there's a net; you try to score and stop the other team from scoring. For the past three seasons, that was Rosemary Stribling's (West HS) life on the volleyball court. Like a musical composer, however, Stribling has transposed the nets and balls from her life as a middle blocker on the CSUB volleyball team to the Icardo Center basketball hardwood.
Monday night, Stribling took a huge leap forward with an impressive statistical showing off the bench. In just 10 minutes of action ? in just her third collegiate game ? Stribling posted 11 points (including 4-of-5 shooting and a three?pointer) and five rebounds.

BALANCING ACT: The Roadrunner offense has been a bit of a balancing act so far in 2007?08. Through the first seven games, five different players have led the team in scoring: Arase, Belt, Kepenekian, Naomi Johnson and Kelley Tarver.
Taking that two steps further, three different players have posted 20+ point efforts through the first seven games (Arase, Kepenekian and Tarver) while eight players have scored in double figures (add Ke'Airra Jones, Rosemary Stribling and Nikhol West to the list above).

A TASTE OF THE HIGH LIFE: The Roadrunners had their NCAA Division I appetizer in 2006?07, getting their first taste of victory at the highest level of college play with wins over UT?San Antonio and Cal State Fullerton. Their 77?66 win at UTSA on Dec. 8 was the first official Roadrunner NCAA Division I victory.

Prior to last season, the 'Runners had played four exhibition games against DI foes, posting a 3?1 record in those contests.

ANOTHER 20?WIN SEASON: By posting a 23?6 record in 2007, the 'Runners made it seven?for?seven in terms of 20?win seasons. The 'Runners have averaged 23.3 wins per season in their brief history, winning fewer than 23 games only twice (including 21 in their first season of 2000?01).