Box Score CHICO – On a night when the shots weren’t falling consistently, and a determined Cal State Stanislaus squad looked nothing like a team that had yet to win a game, the No. 20 Chico State Wildcats still figured out a way to get it done Saturday night at Acker Gym. The ’Cats got hot in a big second period to erase a halftime deficit and down the visiting Warriors 68-58, and in the process became the first Chico State women’s basketball team in 39 years to start a season 8-0.
With the win, the Wildcats matched the 8-0 start of the 1973-74 Chico State squad, coached by the legendary Fran Coslet. This season’s edition of the Wildcats, coached by Brian Fogel, also improved its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) record to 4-0, opening up a one game lead on second place UC San Diego in the conference standings. Cal State Stanislaus fell to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in CCAA play.
CLICK HERE for a photo gallery from Saturday's Chico State-Cal State Stanislaus women's basketball game
Saturday’s victory meant a perfect 5-0 month for the Wildcats – the first time since the 1977-78 season that a Chico State women’s basketball team has gone undefeated in December.
Jazmine Miller had one of her best all-around nights ever in a Wildcat uniform, posting her first career double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds to go along with six assists, three steals and one blocked shot. McKenzie Dalthorp and Analise Riezebos dropped in 10 points apiece; Annie Ward hit three 3-pointers to account for all nine of her points on the night, and Courtney Hamilton contributed five assists, two steals and four blocked shots to the ’Cats victory. Lauren Godde and Devin Brown each scored 16 points to pace Stanislaus.
After spotting Stanislaus the first two points of the contest, Miller led an 11-3 Chico State run with two layups and a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up by six. The Warriors came back to tie the game at 14-all, only to see the ’Cats rip off 10 unanswered points – Hannah Womack bookending the run with a pair of 3-pointers – to give Chico State a 24-14 lead. But with the score 31-24, the Wildcats went ice cold, hitting just one of 13 shots over the final 7:44 of the half. That allowed Stanislaus to make up considerable ground and eventually take the lead on a Katie Staack jumper with one second left in the period, giving the Warriors a 34-33 lead at intermission.
The game was tied at 38-apiece three minutes into the second period when the Chico State offense finally kicked back into gear, using numerous fast break opportunities to push the ball up the floor for easy transition baskets. A Ward 3-pointer and buckets by Dalthorp, Miller, Riezebos, Sam Messersmith and Synchro Bull fueled a 17-6 Wildcat run to make the score 55-44 with 10:18 to play. Chico State pushed the advantage to 14 with under six minutes left, but Stanislaus knocked down three straight buckets to pull to within 64-56 with 2:33 remaining. The ’Cats’ defense then took over in decisive fashion, allowing just one Warrior field goal the rest of the way, giving Chico State the 68-58 victory and a sweep of the season series.
Chico State takes a break for the holidays before returning to action Friday and Saturday, Jan. 4-5 at Acker Gym. The Wildcats will host Sonoma State and San Francisco State in a pair of key CCAA matchups.
