CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball lifted the lid on the 2011-12 with a big road win Tuesday against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) foe Cal State Stanislaus. The ’Cats return home for their next game, a non-conference tilt against a solid Colorado Mesa squad Friday night at Acker Gym as part of the 39th annual Coslet Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Wildcats posted the program’s 13th consecutive season-opening victory with their 74-61 win over Stanislaus. Chico State shot 51 percent from the field against the Warriors, sinking six of 10 from behind the 3-point arc. Three Wildcats players delivered double-digits scoring performances; Jazmine Miller led the way with 17 points, while Synchro Bull and Crystal Sewell scored 12 and 10, respectively.
Chico State has not lost a home season opener since dropping a 90-74 decision to Fresno Pacific way back on Nov. 14, 1998.
Colorado Mesa (formerly known as Mesa State) will be playing its first regular season game of the 2011-12 campaign when it steps onto the court Friday. The Mavericks have played just one exhibition game, losing to Division I University of Denver 65-48.
Colorado Mesa was 17-10 last season under third year Head Coach Roger Walters, finishing fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a 14-8 record. The Mavericks return three starters from a year ago: junior forward Kelsey Sigl (16.3 points, 5.5 rebounds in 2010-11), junior guard/forward Katrina Selsor (10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 29 3-pointers) and senior forward Amy Weitzeil (6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds).
Friday will mark the second time the Chico State and Colorado Mesa’s women’s teams have met on the hardwood. The Wildcats downed the Mavericks 80-55 on Nov. 16, 2007 during the Coslet Classic – current assistant coach Audi Spencer scored 13 points in the contest, which interestingly was Brian Fogel’s first game as a member of the Chico State coaching staff.
Friday’s game will be broadcast live locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, with Mike Wessels providing the play-by-play; the broadcast can also be accessed through the Wildcats Athletic website. Fans not able to attend the game in person can follow the action on Live Stats via the Wildcats Athletic website.
Women’s Basketball Alumni Game
Fans are invited to come see several Wildcat players of the past will lace ‘em up again during the Chico State women’s basketball alumni game, taking place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Acker Gym. The event is free to the public; Kim Abts, Taylor Lydon, Audi Spencer, Melissa Richardson, Lauren Himmelspach and Michelle Pietka are just some of the former Chico State greats that are scheduled to appear. Following the game, there will be an alumni meet-and-greet at Woodstock’s Pizza, 166 East 2nd St. in downtown Chico. The public is welcome to attend.
