CHICO – It took the Chico State women’s basketball team over 30 minutes to penetrate Cal State L.A.’s zone defense Saturday, but the Wildcats – trailing the entire game to that point – looked like it would pull out a hard-earned victory anyway on the strength of an impressive 14-2 second half run. It was not to be, however – the ’Cats could only muster two points in the final 3:19, allowing the Golden Eagles to rally back, and a pair of Lacy Ramon free throws with just four seconds remaining vaulted visiting Cal State L.A. to a 57-56 win at Acker Gym.


Chico State, which shot a season-high 53 percent in Friday’s win over Cal State Dominguez Hills, had a tough time getting the ball to fall against Cal State L.A.’s zone defense Saturday, hitting just 24.2 percent (15-for-62) of its field goal attempts. Synchro Bull led the Wildcats, just missing a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Natasha Smith contributed 10 points and six rebounds, while Jazmine Miller and McKenzie Dalthorp chipped in with eight points apiece. Ramon was the lone Cal State L.A. player in double figures, scoring 16 points – eight coming from the free throw line. Chico State outrebounded the Golden Eagles on the night, 40-35.

Cal State L.A. jumped out to a 14-3 lead and never trailed in the opening half, though Chico State was able to whittle the deficit to three – baskets by Bull, Smith, Miller and Ymonne Davidson-Mays made the score 22-19 with 6:47 left in the period, but the Golden Eagles countered with an 8-3 run to go up 30-22. Free throws by Dalthorp and Davidson-Mays kept the ’Cats close, but Cal State L.A. went into the locker room with a 32-26 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles led 47-39 midway through the second half when Chico State finally cracked Cal State L.A.’s zone and made its move – free throws by Smith, Samantha Messersmith and Annie Ward, combined with a pair of layups by Bull, fueled a 9-0 run to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, and with 3:19 remaining, the ’Cats had extended their advantage to 54-49. The Golden Eagles scored six unanswered points to go up 55-54, but with 59 second left, Dalthorp knocked down a pair of foul shots to put Chico State back on top, 56-55. The Wildcats had the lead and the ball with 40 seconds to go, but turned it over, allowing Cal State L.A. one more possession. Ramon was fouled with four seconds remaining on the clock, and calmly sank both free throws to put the Golden Eagles on top. The ’Cats were unable to get up a shot as time ran out, giving Cal State L.A. the 57-56 victory.

BOX SCORE

Chico State finishes 2-3 on its year-opening five game homestand. The Wildcats return to road action next weekend, taking on Cal State East Bay Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.