CCAA Championships Begin Thursday at Stockton Arena
- March 3, 2015
ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ women’s basketball has become a regular to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships. The Pioneers will compete in their fourth straight tournament and take on Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, March 5 inside the Stockton Arena.
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ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ has earned a spot in the CCAA Championships all four years it has been eligible for participation. The women’s basketball team has several variables playing in its favor starting with the location of this year’s tournament.
The Hayward campus is only 60 miles away from Stockton Arena allowing for much less travel time and fewer inconveniences. Head Coach Suzy Barcomb is hoping that the relative close proximity to the venue will bring with it much more fanfare in favor of the Pioneers.
“Hopefully we will get some fan support. It’s nice not to have to jump on a plane right after our road trip,” said Barcomb in reference to last weekend’s games in Turlock and Chico. “We will have more comfort getting to stay here. We are really excited and thankful to have (the tournament) within driving distance.”
Last season the Pioneers traveled to southern California to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opening round of the tournament. The previous two years ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ dropped true road contests prior to the neutral site format.
Thursday’s game at Stockton Arena is scheduled to begin at 2:35 p.m. It is the second of two women’s semifinal contests. UC San Diego will take on Cal State San Bernardino in the tournament’s opening game at 12:05 p.m.
The women’s basketball team is hoping to become the first ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ athletic program to win a CCAA postseason contest of any kind. The winner of Thursday’s game will take on No. 2 seed Humboldt State on Friday at 2:35 p.m.