CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball team hits the road this weekend for the final time during the regular season, and the Wildcats hope their success away from Acker Gym – eight wins in 12 tries so far in 2011-12 – will continue as they take on Cal State L.A. Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday in a pair of big California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchups. Tipoff for both games is slated for 5:30 p.m.

Chico State enters the weekend 13-9 overall and in sixth place in the CCAA with a 10-8 conference record. Two wins this weekend will clinch a spot in the upcoming CCAA Championship Tournament, but the Wildcats are still in the running for one of the top four spots in the conference standings, earning an opening round home date. With four regular season games to play, the ’Cats trail fifth place Cal Poly Pomona by just one game and are only two games behind Humboldt State and Cal State L.A., which are tied for third place.

The Wildcats are looking to finish the season strong. Chico State has won two of its last three games, including last Saturday’s 64-58 win over Cal State San Bernardino. The ’Cats rank fourth among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 65.9 points a game, but is ninth in defense, allowing 63.2 points a contest. Chico State is the CCAA’s top free-throw shooting team (77.9 percent) and fifth best in the nation, and ranks second in the conference in assists (13.2 a game), fourth in field goal percentage (40.7) and fifth in rebounding and steals (38.0 and 9.0 a game, respectively).


Jazmine Miller is averaging 10.0 points a game for the Wildcats and remains the No. 1 free throw shooter in the CCAA (87.5 percent). The sophomore guard also ranks eighth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (34.0) and 10th in 3-point baskets, averaging 1.5 a game. Courtney Hamilton is sixth in the CCAA in assists (2.9 a game), while Courtney Harrison is ninth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (33.3).

Cal State L.A., Chico State’s Friday night opponent, will provide the ’Cats with a big road test. Besides being 14-8 on the season and owning a share of third place in the CCAA (12-6), the Golden Eagles play extremely well on their home floor, having won seven of nine at The Eagles’ Nest.

The Wildcats might have caught Cal State L.A. at just the right time, though – after winning six straight last month, the Golden Eagles have stumbled in February, losing three of their last four. Last week Cal State L.A. beat Sonoma State 71-60 on the road before going to Arcata and bowing to Humboldt State, 69-64.

Cal State L.A. has little trouble putting ball in the bucket, ranking second in the CCAA in scoring (69.0 points a game). The Golden Eagles lead the conference in blocked shots (2.9 a game) and steals (10.4 a night), rank second in field goal percentage (43.2) and free throw percentage (71.2) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (33.8). Cal State L.A. possesses one of the most porous defenses in the CCAA, ranking 11th by allowing 64.2 points a game.

The Golden Eagles are led by senior forward Lacy Ramon, who is third in the CCAA in scoring (15.0 points a game) and leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (47.1 percent). Junior guard Tessondra Williams averages 11.7 points a game and has knocked down 22 3-pointers on the season (second on the team to Ramon’s 24 treys), and senior guard Jazzi Johnson contributes 10.1 points a contest to the Cal State L.A. attack.

In the first meeting of the season, the Golden Eagles won a 57-56 nail biter Jan. 14 at Acker Gym – despite 17 points and nine rebounds by Synchro Bull, a pair of Ramon free throws with four seconds remaining gave Cal State L.A. the victory. Chico State holds a 29-8 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, which hosts the Wildcats Saturday following a Friday night matchup with Cal State Stanislaus, has endured a long season, entering the weekend 3-22 overall and tied for 11th in the CCAA with a 2-16 conference record. The Toros have lost four straight and 10 of their last 11, including road defeats last weekend against Humboldt State and Sonoma State. Dominguez Hills is 2-8 this season at the Toro Dome.

The Toros are last in the CCAA in scoring, averaging just 50 points a game, and rank 10th in the conference in defense, giving up 63.4 points a contest. Dominguez Hills is also ranked near or at the bottom of nearly every team statistical category.

Junior guard Porcha Davis is the Toros’ leading scorer, averaging 9.3 points with a team-high 19 3-pointers. Senior forward Sherrie Hughes contributes 7.0 points a game and is eighth in the CCAA in rebounding, averaging 7.3 boards a night.

It was all Chico State in the season’s first meeting with the Toros – the Wildcats led wire-to-wire in a 82-53 victory Jan. 13 at Acker Gym. The ’Cats also hold the advantage in the all-time series, winning 31 of 42 meetings with Dominguez Hills.

Both Friday and Saturday games will be aired locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY with Mike Wessels handling the play-by-play. The broadcast will also be streamed online through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats are available via the conference website.