CHICO – After playing five road games in the space of 13 days, the Chico State women’s basketball team can finally set its suitcases down and settle in for a long stretch in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats, who play nine of its next 11 games at home, welcome the Golden Eagles of Cal State L.A. Friday night and the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros on Saturday.

The return home couldn’t have come at a better time – the Wildcats dropped the last two games of their long road swing, including Tuesday’s 63-48 loss to struggling Cal State Stanislaus. Chico State shot just 35 percent against the Warriors and committed 24 turnovers – 15 in the decisive second half – to fall for the sixth time in the last nine games. As a result, the Wildcats – which began the season 5-0 – enters the weekend 8-6 overall and in a tie with Cal State San Bernardino for fifth place in the CCAA with a 5-4 conference mark.

Despite stumbling on the road, Chico State remains among the conference leaders in several team categories – the Wildcats lead the CCAA in rebounding (averaging 41.6 boards a game), are third in scoring (averaging 66.9 points a contest), and third in field goal percentage (40.3 percent). The ’Cats are also second in the conference in steals, averaging 11.1 a game, and third in assists (14.6 per contest). In conference play, Chico State is third in the CCAA in scoring (67.3 points a game), second in rebounding (41.3 boards per contest), and third in field goal percentage (40.0 percent), assists (13.8 per contest) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.7). Defensively, the Wildcats are eighth in the CCAA, allowing the opposition 61.7 points per game.

Despite just four points Tuesday against Stanislaus, Natasha Smith – the reigning CCAA Player of the Week – is Chico State’s leading scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game. Smith also ranks second in the CCAA in assists (3.8 per contest). Senior Melissa Richardson is averaging 11.1 points per contest; her 28 3-pointers are the fourth most in the CCAA. Sophomore Pauline Ferrall averages 9.1 points a night to go along with 5.5 rebounds a contest, while senior Christine Vest chips in with eight points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game.

The Golden Eagles (3-11 overall, 1-8 CCAA) have struggled so far this season, and enter Friday’s action having lost four straight and seven of their last nine. Since winning 20 games in 2005-06, Cal State L.A. has languished near the bottom of the conference standings, and this season is no different, as they occupy 11th place in the CCAA. In fact, in the last 3½ seasons, the Golden Eagles have lost 74 of 94 games and are just 12-59 in conference play. Cal State L.A. dropped a pair on the road last weekend, losing to Cal State San Bernardino 65-52 on Friday, Jan. 15, and on Saturday the 16th dropped a 61-53 decision to Cal Poly Pomona. The Golden Eagles entered the week ranked dead last in the CCAA in scoring (averaging 51.9 points a game), and 10th in defense, allowing an average of 63 points a contest. The Golden Eagles have yet to win a road game this season; Cal State L.A. is 0-7 away from the Eagles Nest.

Junior guard Jazzi Johnson is Cal State L.A.’s leading scorer – her 11.6 points-per-game average is 11th-best in the CCAA. Junior forward/ center Jordan Kuzma contributes 8.7 points and 7.9 rebounds a contest, while sophomore guard Jameiz Terrell averages 8.1 points and is the Golden Eagles’ primary 3-point threat, with 22 treys on the season.

All-time, the Wildcats have won 26 of the 32 meetings with the Golden Eagles, including the last 16 straight dating back to the 2000-01 season. Chico State took both matchups in 2008-09, ripping the Golden Eagles 73-48 Jan. 17 at Acker Gym, and beating Cal State L.A. 69-59 Feb. 20 at the Eagles Nest. The last time the Wildcats lost to Cal State L.A. was a 67-63 decision Feb. 9, 2001 at Acker Gym.

Chico State’s Saturday opponent, Cal State Dominguez Hills (who play against Cal State Stanislaus Friday) is experiencing a down year after a 21-win season and an NCAA Championship Tournament appearance in 2008-09. The Toros enter the weekend 4-10 on the season and tied for eighth place in the CCAA with a 3-6 conference record. Dominguez Hills has suffered through a rough month of January, having lost three straight and four of its last five games. The Toros entered the week ranked seventh in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 59.4 points a game, and ninth in defense, surrendering 62.2 points per contest. Dominguez Hills has been accurate behind the arc, though, with the second-best 3-point field goal percentage in the CCAA (32.3 percent).

Junior guard/forward Neka Mixon is Dominguez Hills’ most consistent scorer. Sidelined for eight games early in the season due to injury, Mixon, an All-CCAA First Team selection from a year ago, is averaging 15.0 points a game entering the week; she also averages 8.7 rebounds a contest. The Toros have two other players scoring in double figures: junior guard Brandie McCann (11.3 points per game) and senior guard Whitney Gantt (10.6). Dominguez Hills boasts four players with 10 or more 3-pointers on the season; sophomore guard MacKenzie Mathias leads the way with 18 treys.

The Wildcats have won 26 of 37 meetings all-time against Dominguez Hills, but the Toros took all three games between the two teams last season. Dominguez Hills beat the ’Cats 63-55 at Acker Gym Jan. 16, 2009 and 64-50 Feb. 21 at the Torodome in Carson. The Toros ended Chico State’s 2008-09 season with a 74-61 victory March 6 in the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals.

Tipoff for both the Friday night tilt against Cal State L.A. and Saturday’s game versus Cal State Dominguez Hills are slated for 5:30 p.m. Follow all the action with Mike Baca providing the play-by-play on ESPN 101.7 FM locally or on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website.