CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State women’s basketball team will open its 2008-09 campaign with three home games in three nights beginning Thursday. The Wildcats, beginning their first season under Head Coach Brian Fogel, will face Alaska Fairbanks Thursday at 7 p.m. and then host the 36th Annual Carl’s Jr. Coslet Classic Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats, who opened the season ranked No. 28 in the nation, are the preseason favorites to win their third California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title in four seasons.

Chico State has won or shared the Coslet Classic nine straight times, going 17-0 in the process. They’ll try to continue that trend in a field that features CCAA rival Sonoma State, Alaska Fairbanks, and Dixie State (St. George, Utah). Sonoma State and Alaska Fairbanks will kick off the festivities at 5:30 Friday, and Chico State will square off against Dixie State at 7:30. Saturday, Sonoma State and Dixie State play at 5:30, and Chico State and Alaska Fairbanks follow at 7:30.

Chico State’s games on Thursday and Saturday will be broadcast on Chico’s ESPN Radio, 101.7 FM. The streaming statistics of all three games will be available via www.chicowildcats.com by clicking on the livestats link on the women’s basketball page. 

If Renee Goldoff can even come close to replicating her performance in last season’s Coslet Classic, the Wildcats will be tough to beat. The senior post player was named the Tournament MVP last season after averaging 27 points and 13.5 rebounds, while shooting 68 percent (21-for-31) to lead Chico State to a pair of wins. In perhaps the best game of her career, she scored 26 points and pulled down 21 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to a victory over fourth-ranked West Texas A&M in the tournament’s final game.

Coslet Classic Schedule
Friday
Sonoma State vs. Alaska Fairbanks, 5:30
Chico State vs. Dixie State, 7:30

Saturday
Sonoma State vs. Dixie State, 5:30
Chico State vs. Alaska Fairbanks, 7:30