LOS ANGELES – No matter where you look on Friday’s stat sheet, it’s obvious that the Chico State women’s basketball team came ready to play in their road rematch against Cal State L.A. Not only did the Wildcats avenge last month’s one point loss to the Golden Eagles at Acker Gym, Chico State – thanks to 57 percent shooting on the night – enjoyed its most lopsided victory of the season, crushing Cal State L.A. 92-60 at The Eagles’ Nest.
With the win – the Wildcats’ third in the last four games – Chico State improves to 14-9 on the season and 11-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The ’Cats officially clinched a spot in the CCAA Championship Tournament, and remain in the hunt for a one of the tournament’s first round home games, trailing fourth place Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona by just one game. The Golden Eagles, losers of four of their last five, fall to 14-9 overall and 12-7 in CCAA play.
Five Wildcats delivered double-digit scoring nights – McKenzie Dalthorp poured in a career-high 20 points, with Jazmine Miller nailing three 3-pointers to finish with 13. Crystal Sewell also had a career night, scoring 11 points, while Synchro Bull and Ymonne Davidson-May contributed 10 points apiece. Bull also racked up a team-high five rebounds and seven assists.
Things did not start encouragingly for Chico State, as Cal State L.A. built an early 6-2 advantage and held the Wildcats without a field goal for the first five minutes of the contest. But when the ’Cats finally started heating up, there was no stopping them – two layups by Caressa Williams and Miller’s first 3-pointer of the night highlighted an 11-2 run to put Chico State on top, 13-8. The Golden Eagles pulled to within two, but Courtney Harrison kick-started a 15-4 run with back-to-back 3-pointers as the ’Cats stretched their lead to 13. Cal State L.A. whittled the deficit to eight points to make it a 33-25 game, only to see the Wildcats score eight of the half’s last 10 points to take a 41-27 lead at intermission.
It was all Chico State in the second half, as the Wildcats continually broke down Cal State L.A.’s zone defense and produced numerous fastbreak points. Already up 14, buckets by Dalthorp, Bull, Crystal Sewell as well as another Miller 3-pointers pushed the ’Cats’ lead to 58-38. The closest the Golden Eagles would get the rest of the way was 21, but Chico State continued to keep the pedal to the metal, using an 18-9 run – highlighted by Harrison’s 100th career 3-pointer – to go up 79-49 and effectively put the game away. To add an exclamation point to its ninth road victory in 13 tries this season, Chico State scored nine of the last 11 points to lock down the 92-60 victory and split the regular season series with the Golden Eagles.
BOX SCORE
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, as they travel to Carson to square off with Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.; Mike Wessels has the call locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY and on the Internet at the Wildcat Athletics website.
