Chico State Athletics

Since joining the Chico State women’s basketball team last season, Katie Girten has been waiting for the chance to make a big contribution to the Wildcats’ offensive attack. Happily for ’Cats fans, the wait is over. The senior from San Diego was deadly from 3-point range last week, knocking down seven of 11 attempts from behind the arc, and her long-distance sharpshooting was a key ingredient to Chico State’s victories over conference rivals Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills, keeping the Wildcats atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings. For her efforts, Girten is the latest Wildcat of the Week.

Against Cal State L.A. Dec. 30, Girten came off the bench to score six points, burying two 3-pointers while pulling down five rebounds and adding a steal and a blocked shot as Chico State beat the Golden Eagles 68-58. But the following afternoon against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Girten was nearly unstoppable, connecting for five 3-pointers – four coming in a 15-0 first half run – on the way to a career-high 17-point performance as the Wildcats topped the Toros 71-59. She also contributed four rebounds and two assists as the ’Cats ran their season record to 9-1 and a perfect 6-0 in the CCAA.

Girten is averaging 11.6 points in her last three games, and has drained at least one 3-point bucket in each of the last four Wildcat contests. She currently ranks third on the team with 13 3-pointers and is shooting an impressive 41.9 percent from behind the arc this season.