LOS ANGELES – After nearly three weeks off the court, the Chico State women’s basketball team was back in action Thursday, and for the first half of its afternoon road tilt against Cal State L.A., the holiday break and the lack of floor time was apparent, as the Wildcats shot less than 30 percent and missed seven of eight from 3-point range. But the ’Cats caught fire in the second half, draining seven treys, and combined with their usual stingy defense, came away with a 68-58 victory over the Golden Eagles at the Eagles’ Nest.
With the win, Chico State improves to 8-1 on the season and stays atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 5-0 conference mark. Cal State L.A. dropped its fourth decision in the last six games to slip to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the CCAA.
For the third straight game, Taylor Lydon improved her career high in scoring, leading Chico State with 19 points, while pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds – it was Lydon’s first-ever double-double. Jazmine Miller enjoyed her finest offensive performance as a Wildcat, scoring 10 points, while Courtney Harrison buried a trio of 3-pointers to finish with nine points. Molly Collins contributed eight points and six rebounds to the ’Cat attack. Lacy Ramon led Cal State L.A. with 17 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.
Chico State didn’t exactly put on a shooting clinic in the first half – the Wildcats hit only 29.7 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes of play and misfired on 12 of their first 13 shot attempts. Cal State L.A. built an early 11-5 lead before the ’Cats finally started to heat up – two Pauline Ferrall layups and a 3-point play by Miller keyed a 9-3 run to put Chico State on top 16-14. The Golden Eagles answered by scoring 14 of the next 20 points to forge a 28-22 advantage. The Wildcats held Cal State L.A. scoreless for the final three minutes of the half, and an Analise Riezebos layup and a pair of Collins free throws pulled the ’Cats to within 28-26 at intermission.
Chico State came out firing to begin the second half – a pair of Courtney Harrison 3-pointers bookended a 10-4 run to give the Wildcats a 36-32 lead. Cal State L.A. scored seven of the next eight points to go back on top 39-37, but the ’Cats again dialed long distance to regain the lead – two Katie Girten 3-pointers and treys by Miller and Harrison powered a 17-8 run to make the score 54-47 with 9:59 left to play. Suddenly both teams went ice cold, unable to produce a point for the next five minutes, but the Golden Eagles finally broke through with a pair of buckets to pull within 54-51 with 3:11 to go. Collins finally snapped Chico State’s seven-plus minute scoring drought with a layup, then Lydon nailed a 3-pointer and drained three free throws to up the Wildcats’ advantage to 62-51 with 1:06 left. Cal State L.A. was forced to foul every time Chico State touched the ball, and the ’Cats, who were just 14-for-27 from the free throw line, hit five charity tosses down the stretch to ice the 68-58 victory.
BOX SCORE
Chico State is back in action Friday afternoon, as the Wildcats travel to Carson to take on the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m.; the game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM and 1340 AM locally, as well as on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website.
