When the Chico State women's basketball team is sprinting downcourt to beat the opposition in transition, it's a safe bet that Shay Stark is somewhere in the middle of the fast break. Saturday against Humboldt State, the speedy sophomore guard found herself at the center of the Wildcats' come-from-behind victory over the Lumberjacks, matching her career scoring high while hitting the game-winning free throws with less than two seconds remaining. Stark's offensive production and late-game heroics make her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
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Stark matched her career high with a season-best 15 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field, while adding six rebounds and three assists. Her layup with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter put Chico State on top for the first time in the contest—but it was Stark's two free throws with 1.1 second remaining that proved to be the difference as the Wildcats edged Humboldt State 62-61 to improve to 7-1 on the season and 4-1 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.
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Trailing 61-60 and with time winding down, Stark was fouled attempting a desperation shot from midcourt. She coolly stepped to the foul line and sank two of her three free throw attempts to give the Wildcats just their second lead of the game, and it was just enough to give Chico State the victory and run its current winning streak to four straight.
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Through the first month of the season, Stark is averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds a contest. Her 4.1 assists per game ranks third among CCAA players.
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Stark and the Wildcats take a break for the holidays before returning to action Saturday, December 29 against conference rival Cal Poly Pomona.
