CHICO – Cal Poly Pomona came into Chico Friday struggling to find the success that saw the Broncos win their first eight games of the season. Pomona had dropped three of its last five contests, and had averaged less than 58 points over its last six contests. Fighting to hang onto sole possession of fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Broncos found the hot hand at Acker Gym, shooting 48 percent from the field and using several long scoring streaks to beat the host Wildcats, 83-74.
Friday’s loss was a tough one for Chico State – a win would have moved the Wildcats into a three-way tie for fourth in the CCAA standings. Instead, the ’Cats remain in sixth place as they dropped to 11-8 on the season and 8-7 in conference play. Pomona, which registered its sixth win in the last seven games with Chico State and third in a row at Acker Gym, improved to 14-5 overall and 10-5 in the CCAA.
Synchro Bull led four Wildcats in double figures, scoring 17 points while grabbing four rebounds and grabbing six steals. Courtney Hamilton hit all three of her 3-point attempts to post a career-high 13 points, while Jazmine Miller and Ymonne Davidson-Mays scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Megan Ford had 21 points and 14 rebounds to pace Pomona, with Broncos teammate Sarah Semenero contributing 21 points.
Cal Poly Pomona used a 12-2 run early in the first half to grab a quick 16-5 lead, but Chico State chipped away at the deficit, using baskets by Bull, Davidson-Mays and a Courtney Harrison 3-pointer to pull to within 21-19. The Broncos answered with another scoring streak, posting nine unanswered points to extend their advantage to 30-19. Miller dropped in a free throw and a pair of layups to make the score 30-24 with 3:16 left in the period, but the ’Cats could only register two field goals the rest of the half, giving Pomona a 38-30 lead at intermission.
The Wildcats trailed 42-32 early in the second half before going on a scoring streak of their own – Hamilton bookended baskets by Bull, Natasha Smith and Crystal Sewell with a 3-pointer and a layup to highlight an 11-0 Chico State run to put the ’Cats up briefly 43-42. The Broncos again had an answer, holding the Wildcats to just three four goals over the next seven minutes and outscoring Chico State during that stretch 25-9 to take a commanding 67-52 lead with 7:14 to go. The ’Cats made one last comeback attempt, as two Hamilton 3-pointers spurred a 17-8 run to cut the deficit to 75-69 with just under two minutes to play. But Pomona would end the night as they started it, posting a mini 7-2 run to go back up by 11, and ultimately settling for the 83-74 victory.
BOX SCORE
Chico State returns to action Saturday, wrapping up its four game homestand against San Francisco State (7-14, 6-9 CCAA). The Gators come to Chico having won three of their last four games, including a 67-64 victory Friday against Cal State Stanislaus. Tipoff for Saturday’s Wildcats-Gators contest is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
