CHICO – After an 11-day holiday break, the Chico State women’s basketball team returns to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action Saturday and Sunday, hosting conference rivals Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona in afternoon games at Acker Gym. This weekend marks the first time the Wildcats have played on their home floor since November 24th, where the ’Cats are a perfect 3-0 on the season. Saturday’s Cal State San Bernardino contest and Sunday’s Cal Poly Pomona clash are both scheduled to tip off at 12:30 p.m.

Since winning their conference openers against San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay during the first week of December, the Wildcats have played just two games – both non-conference losses to Western Washington and Seattle Pacific in the CCAA/GNAC Crossover Classic December 20-21. Despite the two-game losing streak, Chico State – 5-2 on the season, 2-0 in conference play – begins the weekend in third place in the CCAA, just a game behind front-running Humboldt State and a half-game back of second place UC San Diego.

The Wildcats look to rebound offensively after averaging just 56.5 points and shooting a combined 35 percent from the field in their two CCAA/GNAC Crossover Classic contests. Even after that bump in the road, Chico State still enters this weekend ranked third among CCAA teams in scoring (67.0 points a game), rebounding (41.3 boards a night) and field goal percentage (41.5 percent). The Wildcats lead the conference in assists, averaging 16.6 a game, and are second in steals (11.1 per contest).

Chico State currently boasts three of the CCAA’s top 20 scorers. Melissa Richardson ranks 11th in the conference with an 11.1 points per game average; Pauline Ferrall is 13th, averaging 10.8 points a night; and Christine Vest, putting up 9.7 points a contest, is 20th among CCAA players. Natasha Smith and Synchro Bull are one-two in the conference in assists (averaging 4.7 and 4.0 dishes, respectively), while Bull ranks second in the CCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).

Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State’s Saturday opponent, is 5-2 on the season and tied with Cal Poly Pomona for sixth place in the CCAA with a 1-1 conference record. The Coyotes have won three of their last four games, including the team’s most recent, a 63-53 home victory against Saint Martin’s University on December 22. Cal State San Bernardino, which reached the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals last season despite an 11-17 overall record, is fourth in the CCAA in scoring (averaging 63.4 points a game) while ranking No. 3 in the conference in defense, allowing just 56.4 points a contest. The Coyotes lead the CCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (34.6 percent) and have committed the fewest turnovers (13.7 a game) of any conference team. Cal State San Bernardino is led by senior guard Krystal Urzua – a Second Team All-CCAA selection in 2008-09, Urzua is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.6 points a game, and has knocked down 25 of 50 3-pointers on the season (tops in the CCAA) while leading the conference in free throw percentage (85 percent). Junior forward Kymberly Ooten is seventh in the CCAA in scoring (12.9 points a night) and averages 6.3 rebounds a game.

All-time, Chico State has won 17 of the 26 meetings with the Coyotes. Last season, Cal State San Bernardino nipped the Wildcats at home 68-67 January 3rd; Chico State returned the favor with a 58-46 win February 6th at Acker Gym. The Wildcats have won nine of the last 11 games against the Coyotes dating back to the 2004-05 season.

Cal Poly Pomona, which plays Cal State Stanislaus Saturday prior to its Sunday afternoon tilt with the Wildcats, enters the weekend 4-2 on the season and tied with Cal State San Bernardino for sixth place in the CCAA with a 1-1 conference record. The Broncos have lost two of their last three contests after opening the season with three straight victories. Cal Poly Pomona ranks fifth in the CCAA in offense (averaging 62.2 points a game) and second in the conference in team defense (allowing just 56 points a night). The Broncos don’t attempt many 3-pointers (a league-low 56 in its first six games), but makes the most of its scoring attempts, shooting better than 40 percent from the field. Cal Poly Pomona’s top gun offensively is junior guard Reyana Colson – an All-CCAA First Team selection last season, Colson is third in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.2 points a game. Sophomore center Megan Ford, who missed half of the 2008-09 season due to a torn ACL, has returned to average 10.7 points and over six rebounds a night. Senior guard Stephisha Walton (Second Team All-CCAA in 2008-09) contributes nine points and 8.5 rebounds a contest.

Chico State has won 18 of 33 meetings all-time with the Broncos, including two of three last season. After splitting two regular season matchups, the Wildcats knocked Cal Poly Pomona out of the CCAA Championship Tournament with a 45-42 first round victory March 3rd. Chico State has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with the Broncos since 2005.

Live Stats for Saturday’s Chico State-Cal State San Bernardino game and Sunday’s Wildcats-Cal Poly Pomona contest will be available on the Wildcat Athletics website. Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play for both games on ESPN 101.7 FM locally or on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website.