CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball team didn’t waste any time dwelling on Friday’s 20-point home loss to UC San Diego, nor did the Wildcats show any hint of an emotional letdown against winless Cal State East Bay. An energetic, attacking Chico State squad shot just under 50 percent for the night and drained a season-high 11 3-point baskets in handing the visiting the Pioneers a 74-47 defeat Saturday at Acker Gym.
The win, Chico State’s sixth at home this season, moved the Wildcats to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The ’Cats most lopsided victory of the 2010-11 campaign kept Chico State in sole possession of second place in the conference standings, one game behind Cal State Monterey Bay. Saturday’s loss dropped Cal State East Bay to 0-12 overall and 0-8 in CCAA play.
Every Chico State player who saw action Saturday scored; Courtney Harrison and Pauline Ferrall led the way with 12 points apiece. Taylor Lydon knocked down a trio of 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, while Molly Collins and Jennifer Rene chipped in with eight apiece. Courtney Hamilton dished out seven assists to match her career high, and three Wildcats – Lydon, Harrison and Analise Riezebos – pulled down five rebounds. Chico State shot 49.2 percent on the night and hit 11-of-20 from 3-point range. Lauren Lucchesi scored a game-high 14 points – all in the second half – to pace Cal State East Bay.
Chico State never trailed in the game, snapping an early five-all tie with a 20-2 run to take full control of the contest – three Ferrall layups and 3-pointers by Lydon, Harrison, Hamilton and Jazmine Miller led the charge as the Wildcats went up 25-7. Cal State East Bay trimmed the deficit to 11, but with the score 28-17, Chico State used two Collins jumpers and four points by Ferrall to trigger an 8-1 run in the final four minutes of the first half to take a 36-18 lead into intermission.
Cal State East Bay scored eight of the first 11 points of the second half to pull to within 39-26, but it would turn out to be the Pioneers’ last hurrah – the Wildcats held East Bay to just one field goal over an eight minute stretch, and with three Riezebos buckets, a pair of McKenzie Dalthorp jumpers, and 3-pointers by Harrison and Katie Girten the Wildcats used a 21-5 run to take a commanding 60-31 lead with 8:56 to play. The Pioneers could get no closer than 23 the rest of the way, as Chico State cruised to the 74-47 victory.
BOX SCORE
The Wildcats head back to southern California next weekend for games against two top CCAA opponents. Friday, Jan. 14 the Wildcats visit Cal State San Bernardino, then face Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday the 15th. Both the Coyotes and Broncos are 5-1 in conference play and are a combined 17-3 on the year. Friday and Saturday’s game are each slated to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
