CHICO – For most of the season, the starters for the Chico State women’s basketball team have provided the bulk of the offense – the various starting lineups have averaged just over 43 points a game entering Friday’s contest against Cal State Dominguez Hills, and true to form, the starters delivered another 42 against the Toros. But on this night, the Wildcat reserves were just as productive, scoring 40 points off the bench as the ’Cats led from wire-to-wire and rolled to an 82-53 victory at Acker Gym.
With Friday’s win – Chico State’s fifth straight over Dominguez Hills – the Wildcats improved to 8-5 overall and 5-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Toros suffered their second straight setback to fall to 2-14 on the season and 1-8 in CCAA play.
For the fifth straight game, Synchro Bull led the ’Cats in scoring, pouring in 16 points Friday while grabbing seven rebounds. Samantha Messersmith scored a career-high 12 points in just 13 minutes of action, while Caressa Williams sparkled in 12 minutes off the bench, scoring six points, hauling in four rebounds and doling out four assists – all career highs. Courtney Hamilton added 10 points for the ’Cats, with Natasha Smith contributing eight points and four rebounds. Brittni Hulsizer led Dominguez Hills with 14 points in the losing effort.
Chico State roared out to an 11-1 lead in the first half, as Bull flipped in a pair of layups and drained a 3-pointer. Dominguez Hills scored the next four points, only to see the Wildcats go on an 18-4 run to make it a 29-9 game – Courtney Harrison led the way with a pair of 3-pointers, with Natasha Smith also connecting from behind the arc. The ’Cats extended their advantage to 24, but the Toros ended the period by scoring 11 of the final 15 points to trail 41-24 at halftime.
Dominguez Hills couldn’t make a significant run in the second half – every time the Toros chipped away at Chico State’s lead, the Wildcats had an answer. With the score 49-31, the ’Cats – fueled by a pair of Messersmith 3-pointers – reeled off a 13-5 run to go up 62-36. Chico State’s lead never dipped below 22 for the rest of the game, as the Wildcat reserves took it to the house – baskets by Williams, Messersmith, Crystal Sewell and Annie Ward pushed the ’Cats lead to 31 points with 1:15 to play; Chico State eventually posting the 82-53 victory.
BOX SCORE
Chico State is back in action Saturday, wrapping up its five game homestand against Cal State L.A. (8-5, 6-3 CCAA). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
