CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball team has won its first four games of the 2010-11 season – and has looked very impressive doing it. The Wildcats, who lead the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2-0 conference record and are ranked No. 21 in the nation, have averaged nearly 75 points a game while holding the opposition to just 60 a contest. If Chico State plans to stay unbeaten, though, the Head Coach Brian Fogel’s squad will need to bring its “A” game to Acker Gym this weekend, as the Wildcats host two formidable conference foes, facing Humboldt State Friday and Sonoma State on Saturday. Both contests are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Chico State wrapped up a sweep of its home-and-home series against Cal State Stanislaus last Saturday, beating the Warriors 88-80 at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock. CCAA Player of the Week Natasha Smith led the Wildcats with 28 points while Pauline Ferrall added 16 in a wild contest that saw the two teams combine to score 101 points in the second half. It marked just the third time since the start of the 2007-08 season that Chico State had given up 80 points in a game, and the first time since Mar. 11, 2006 (when the ’Cats beat Cal State Bakersfield 83-80) that the Wildcats had surrendered 80 points and won.
Chico State enters the weekend ranked at or near the top of several CCAA team statistical categories. The Wildcats are third in the conference in scoring (averaging 74.8 points a game) while leading the conference in both rebounding (41.8 boards a contest) and assists (17 a night). Chico State is also second among CCAA teams in free throw percentage (79.2), fifth in field goal percentage (42.7), and fifth in defense. With the 4-0 start, the Wildcats have won 19 of their last 22 games dating back to last season, and have won 12 straight at Acker Gym.
Individually, Smith is already in mid-season form, ranking sixth in the CCAA is scoring (averaging 16.3 points a game) and leading the conference with 5.3 assists a night. Smith is also third in the CCAA in free throw percentage (94.7) and second in the conference with nine 3-point baskets. Ferrall enters the weekend 14th in the CCAA in scoring (12.3 points a game), while teammate Kristin Marquardt ranks 10th in the conference in rebounding, averaging 6.8 boards a contest.
Humboldt State, which takes on the Wildcats Friday, is 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in the CCAA. The Lumberjacks, coached by former Chico State star Joddie (Vossler) Gleason, have dropped two straight contests, including a 73-65 loss to Sonoma State last Saturday. Humboldt State’s lone win of the season was a 75-60 victory over Saint Martin’s on Nov. 19. The Lumberjacks lost three all-conference players to graduation following a 20-11 season that saw Humboldt win the CCAA Championship Tournament and earn a spot in the NCAA West Regionals.
Statistically, Humboldt is tied for fifth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 72 points a game, and is tied for fourth in rebounding (37.7 boards a contest). Junior forward Bree Halsey has put up some impressive numbers for the Lumberjacks, ranking seventh in the conference in scoring (16 points a game), third in rebounding (nine boards a night) and fourth in field goal percentage (57.6). Junior guard Jenna Hamilton, a transfer from the University of Hawaii, is tied for ninth in the CCAA in scoring with a 14.7 points per game average. Forward Jeanette DeWitt, a junior transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College, is 12th in the CCAA in scoring (13.3 points a game) and fifth in rebounding (7.3 boards a contest). Sophomore guard Catie Richards is also scoring in double figures, averaging 10.7 points a game.
Chico State leads the all-time series with Humboldt State, 61-18. The Wildcats won three of four against the Lumberjacks last season – after winning the two regular season meetings, Chico State was thumped by Humboldt 85-55 Mar. 6 in the CCAA Championship Tournament final. The Wildcats got their revenge a week later, ending the Lumberjacks’ season with an 86-76 win Mar. 13 in the NCAA West Region semifinals. Humboldt State has lost 13 straight at Acker Gym – the last time the Lumberjacks beat Chico State on its home floor was a 97-75 victory back on Jan. 28, 1995.
Sonoma State, which goes head-to-head with the Wildcats Saturday following its Friday night contest versus Cal State Stanislaus, enters the weekend with a 3-0 season record and is tied for second in the CCAA with a 1-0 conference mark. Chico State has already seen the Seawolves in action – Sonoma State’s first two wins came at Acker Gym during the Coslet Classic. Like the ’Cats, the Seawolves have been hot of late, shooting 54.7 percent from the field in their 73-65 win over Humboldt State Saturday, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Lumberjacks. Sonoma State, picked to finish 10th in the CCAA preseason coaches’ poll, is looking to improve on last year’s 11-16 record and return to postseason play for the first time since 2007-08.
The Seawolves rank just ninth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 64.7 points a game, but are fourth in defense (allowing only 59 points a contest), second in field goal percentage (47.5), second in assists (16 a night) and fourth in rebounding (37.7 boards a contest). Junior G/F Aly Henington is Sonoma State’s leading scorer, ranking 15th among conference players with a 12 points per game average; junior guard Jaclyn Bisordi has contributed 11.3 points a night. Junior forward Aly Conway, coming off a career-high 20 point performance against Humboldt, is averaging eight points and six rebounds a game, and is second in the CCAA in field goal percentage (71.4).
All-time, Chico State has won 56 of 73 meetings with Sonoma State, though the teams split their two games last season – the Seawolves winning 67-66 in overtime Jan. 16, with the ’Cats posting a lopsided 71-39 victory Feb. 19 at Acker Gym. The Wildcats have beaten Sonoma State eight straight times at home dating back to the 2002-03 season.
Wildcat fans can follow both Friday and Saturday games via Live Stats, available on the Chico State Athletics website. The games will also be broadcast live on ESPN 101.7 and 1340 AM locally and through the Wildcat Athletics website.
