CHICO – It took exactly 20 minutes for the Chico State women’s basketball team to settle into its groove Saturday. Following a sloppy first half that saw the Wildcats and San Francisco State combine for 24 turnovers – 10 in the first four minutes – the ’Cats put together a sharp second half of hoops, scoring 15 of the game’s final 19 points to break open a tight contest and beat the visiting Gators 63-51 at Acker Gym.
With Saturday’s win, Chico State improved to 12-8 on the season and 9-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). San Francisco State fell to 7-15 overall and 6-10 in CCAA play.
As she has all season, Synchro Bull led the Wildcats, coming within a whisker of posting a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds; she also collected five steals, four assists and two blocked shots. Natasha Smith contributed 11 points and five rebounds as Chico State completed the regular season series sweep of San Francisco State and beat the Gators for the seventh straight time and 17th in the last 18 meetings. Michaela Booker topped San Francisco State with 16 points, with Nicole Hicks adding 14 in the losing effort.
The Wildcats and Gators combined for just two field goals in the first five minutes of the contest. Chico State’s first bucket was a 3-pointer by Jazmine Miller to give the ’Cats a 3-2 lead, but San Francisco State rolled off five straight points to go up by five. The Wildcats answered with a 14-3 run – Miller connected on another 3-pointer, with Bull, Crystal Sewell, Ymonne Davidson-Mays, Samantha Messersmith and Jennifer Rene all contributing buckers – to take a 17-11 lead. The Gators and Wildcats were locked up at 25-apiece before Bull beat the halftime buzzer with a jumper to give Chico State a 27-25 lead at intermission.
The Wildcats came out running in the second half, fast-breaking at every opportunity. With the scored tied at 27-all, Natasha Smith hit a 3-pointer that would put Chico State ahead to stay, kicking off a 19-8 run to put the ’Cats up 46-35. San Francisco State was able to pull to within 48-47 with 6:21 to play, but the Wildcat defense stepped up in crunch time to hold the Gators to just two field goals the rest of the way. Sewell scored five points down the stretch for Chico State, and baskets by Bull and Smith in the final 1:11 finally did San Francisco State in, as the Wildcats came away with the 63-51 victory.
BOX SCORE
The Wildcats hit the road next weekend, traveling to southern California to battle the No. 1-ranked UC San Diego Tritons Friday night, followed by a trip to Coussoulis Arena to take on Cal State San Bernardino Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
