CHICO – The results were a little deceiving – despite chalking up just two victories during its recently completed five-game homestand, the Chico State women’s basketball team was literally a few baskets and a few ticks of the clock shy from winning them all. Instead, the Wildcats dropped a pair of one-point decisions and fell to top-ranked UC San Diego in double overtime. The ’Cats, anxious to string together some victories – they haven’t won more than two straight all season – will get their chance on the road this weekend, taking on Cal State East Bay Friday and No. 22 Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Chico State heads into the weekend 8-6 on the season, and currently sits in sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 5-5 conference record. The Wildcats wrapped up their long January homestand last weekend with an 82-53 win Friday over Cal State Dominguez Hills, followed by a heartbreaking 57-56 loss to Cal State L.A. Saturday which saw the Golden Eagles win the game with two free throws in the final four seconds. The ’Cats, 5-3 on the road so far this season, have dropped four of their last seven decisions.
The Chico State offense is ranked sixth in the CCAA, averaging 65.4 points a game, while the Wildcat defense is ninth among conference teams, allowing 62.4 points per contest. The ’Cats are the top free-throw shooting team in the CCAA, averaging 79.1 percent from the line, and rank fourth in rebounding (38.7 boards a game), fourth in assists (13.2 a game), and sixth in both field goal percentage (39.9) and steals (8.9 per game).
Synchro Bull is among the CCAA’s top scorers entering weekend play – the Wildcat guard’s 14.7 points-per-game average is fourth best among conference players. Bull also ranks seventh in steals (2.0 a game), 11th in field goal percentage (46.2) and is in the CCAA top 20 in rebounding (5.5 a contest). Jazmine Miller, who leads the ’Cats with 20 3-pointers, is in the CCAA top 20 in scoring (10.4 points a game) and remains the conference’s most accurate free throw shooter at 87.8 percent. Courtney Hamilton ranks third in the CCAA in assists (3.2 a game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).
Cal State East Bay, 5-10 on the season and in 10th place in the CCAA with a 2-7 conference mark, has lost five of its last six games heading into Friday’s matchup with Chico State. The Pioneers dropped a pair of road contests last weekend, losing 84-73 to UC San Diego on Friday and 63-47 to Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. East Bay has struggled at home this season, losing five of its six games at Pioneer Gymnasium.
Cal State East Bay is ninth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 56.7 points a game, but is a solid defensive team, ranking fourth in the conference by holding opponents to 60.0 points a contest. The Pioneers are sixth in the CCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (30.4), and seventh in field goal percentage (38.2) and free throw percentage (68.1).
Junior forward Lauren Lucchesi is Cal State East Bay’s top offensive threat, averaging 9.6 points a game; she has teamed with freshman guard/forward Micah Walker (8.9 points a game) to hit a combined 37 3-pointers. Junior forward Marlene MacMillan averages 7.5 points a game and ranks sixth in the CCAA in rebounding (8.2 boards a game) and ninth in field goal percentage (47.7).
The Wildcats and Pioneers split their two meetings last season, with Chico State holding a 49-12 lead in the all-time series.
Cal State Monterey Bay, the Wildcats’ Saturday night opponent, is having another outstanding year – last season’s CCAA regular season champs sport an 11-2 overall record and sits in second place in the conference standings with an 8-1 record. Monterey Bay split its two games last weekend, downing Cal State San Bernardino 63-54 before seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped by UC San Diego 91-63 Saturday in a battle of conference unbeatens. The Otters have won seven of eight on their home floor this season.
Cal State Monterey Bay is among the conference leaders in several statistical categories. The Otters are third among CCAA teams in scoring (69.0 points a game), second in rebounding (39.6 a contest), third in assists (13.5 per game), fourth in field goal percentage (40.9), and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (31.9). Monterey Bay is in the middle of the CCAA pack in defense, surrendering an average of 60.2 points a game.
The Otters are led by junior forward Brittani Jefferson, averaging 11.2 points a game and ranking fifth in the CCAA in rebounding (8.5 boards a game) and sixth in field goal percentage (49.6). Senior guard Erika Ward is the conference’s top 3-pointer shooter (36 treys on the season), while senior guard Brandi Stephens is among the top 20 scorers in the CCAA with a 10.8 points-per-game average. Junior guard Stefanie Corgel is averaging just under 10 points a game, has contributed 22 3-pointers on the season and is second in the CCAA in free throw shooting percentage (84.8).
Monterey Bay won both meetings with the Wildcats last season, but Chico State holds an 11-3 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Both Chico State games will be broadcast locally on KPAY 1290-AM Radio, with Mike Baca providing the play-by-play.
Live audio and
Live Stats will also be available through the Wildcat Athletics website.
