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Cal State East Bay’s Payton Sterk became just the fifth CCAA student-athlete since 2015-16 to score over 35 points in a game, and for her efforts, she was named the CCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.
The sophomore guard averaged 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, leading Cal State East Bay to split on the road trip. She shot 45 percent from 3-point range, connecting on 10-of-22 attempts.
Sterk opened the week with a 13-point, five-steal performance in a loss at Cal State San Bernardino. She hit three 3-pointers and had three assists.
On Saturday at Cal Poly Pomona, Sterk went 10-of-17 from the field, 7-of-12 from behind the arc, and 9-of-10 at the free throw line to score a career-high 36 points. The seven treys tied the Cal State East Bay school record. Six of them came in the second half. The 36 points are also the most for a Pioneer since joining the CCAA in 2009, and it doubled up her season average.
Sterk paces the CCAA in points (18.4 ppg) and minutes played (35.7). Her 30 made 3-pointers have Sterk ranked seventh in NCAA Div. II, and she leads the conference by five. She is also tied for 10th in assists (2.8) and eighth in free throw percentage (.760).
The Colorado Springs native is the first Pioneer to earn this honor in 2023-24. Last season, the Pioneers collected two Player of the Week awards. (Delia Moore and Jaela Richardson)
Cal State East Bay will not play another CCAA conference game until it travels to San Francisco State on Sunday, Dec. 31. Before beginning Christmas break, CSUEB will host No. 13 Western Washington on Saturday, Dec. 16, and play an exhibition at St. Mary’s.
List of 35-point games since 2015-16
38 Makayla Rose STAN 1/14/2022
36 Payton Sterk CSUEB 12/9/2023
36 Alexia Thrower HUM 2/15/2020
36 Jasmine Sauser, CSUSB 2/14/2019
35 Jordyn Shane, CPP 12/1/2018