CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball team was looking to do what 15 other teams had been unable to do all season – beat Cal State Monterey Bay. The Otters brought their unblemished record to Acker Gym Saturday, and by the end of the night left little doubt: they are as good as advertised. Cal State Monterey Bay held the Wildcats without a 3-point field goal and a dismal 22.6 percent shooting percentage on the night; the Otters led from start to finish to cruise to a convincing 51-38 victory.
Chico State, which suffered its fourth loss in the last six games, dropped to 11-5 on the season, but thanks to Cal Poly Pomona’s 82-75 win Saturday over UC San Diego, the Wildcats remain tied with the Tritons for fourth place in the CCAA standings with an 8-4 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay, with its first-ever win in Chico, improved to 16-0 overall and remains in sole possession of first place in the CCAA with a 12-0 conference mark.
Molly Collins was the lone offensive force for the Wildcats, scoring a team-high 12 points. Taylor Lydon, Courtney Harrison and Katie Girten – three of Chico State’s top shooters – combined to hit just one of 19 field goal attempts on the night, as the ’Cats posted the program’s lowest single game shooting percentage since hitting just 10 of 45 shots (22.2 percent) in a 62-33 loss to Cal State San Bernardino back on Feb. 14, 2003. Chico State was 0-for-13 from behind the 3-point arc, the first time the Wildcats failed to hit a trey since an 0-for-9 performance against San Francisco State on Jan. 30, 2010. The 38 points was the lowest single-game total for a Chico State team since dropping a 62-38 decision to UC San Diego on Jan. 24, 2009. London Houchin led three Cal State Monterey Bay players in double figures Saturday, scoring 13 points; Julie Heurung added 12 points and hauled in 16 rebounds.
The Otters dialed long distance early – 3-pointers by Heurung and Michelle Santizo staked Monterey Bay to a quick 6-0 lead. Chico State pulled to within 8-6 with 12:42 left in the first half, but could only sink four baskets the rest of the period. The Wildcats’ defense kept the game close, as Monterey Bay shot just 28.6 from the field, and despite Chico State’s offensive struggles, the Otters only led 22-17 at intermission.
Things didn’t get any better for the Wildcats in the second half, as Monterey Bay held Chico State scoreless for the first seven-and-a-half minutes of the period; meanwhile, Santizo buried three 3-pointers as the Otters built a 34-17 lead. The ’Cats responded with their one legitimate run, scoring 11 unanswered points to pull to within six – Collins started the charge with two jumpers and a pair of free throws, Jazmine Miller added a deuce and Katie Girten nailed a jumper to make the score 34-28 with 6:29 to play. But a 5-0 mini-run put Monterey Bay back up by 11, and Chico State could convert just two field goal attempts the rest of the way as the Otters ran out the clock and rolled to the 51-38 win.
BOX SCORE
The Wildcats are back in action next weekend, hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
