LA JOLLA – The Chico State women’s basketball team has accomplished a lot in the last three weeks – namely, six straight wins, a move up to No. 8 in the latest NCAA West Region rankings, and a first round victory in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. But there’s still a lot to get done – and a Wildcat win over Cal State Monterey Bay Friday in the conference tournament semifinals will virtually lock up one of the eight regional berths in the upcoming NCAA Championship Tournament. The ’Cats and Otters are set to tip off at 5:30 p.m. at RIMAC Arena on the UC San Diego campus.
Chico State, seeded No. 5 in the CCAA Championship Tournament, is 18-9 on the season and coming off an exciting 62-60 upset win Tuesday over fourth-seeded Humboldt State. The Wildcats won two of the three meetings with the Lumberjacks (ranked seventh in the NCAA West Region) and both regular season matchups with Cal State Monterey Bay (the No. 5 team in the West). If the ’Cats can conquer the Otters for a third straight time Friday, Chico State’s chances of reaching the big postseason dance could not be stronger.
Of course, beating Monterey Bay would also give Chico State the right to play for the conference championship. The winner of Friday’s Wildcats-Otters game will take on either Cal State L.A. or the CCAA’s regular season champ and No. 1 team in the country, UC San Diego, for the conference tournament crown Saturday night.
The ’Cats, which hasn’t lost since bowing to the Tritons back on Feb. 10, and has dropped only one road contest since way back on Dec. 17. Chico State has played well away from Acker Gym this season, winning 11 of 15 road tilts. Against Cal State Monterey Bay, the Wildcats posted a 63-58 victory at The Kelp Bed on Jan. 21, then beat the Otters at home 51-47 just over a week ago.
Cal State Monterey Bay sports a 19-8 season record heading into Friday’s showdown with the ’Cats, but struggled at the finish line, losing three straight before winning its regular season finale against Cal State Stanislaus. The Otters, the second seed in the CCAA Championship Tournament, hosted their first round tourney game Tuesday, and squeaked by No. 7 Cal State East Bay 46-43 to advance to the semifinals.
Chico State enters play ranked third in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 67.0 points a game, but is ninth among the conference’s 12 teams in defense, allowing just under 62 points a contest. The Wildcats lead the CCAA in free throw percentage (77.0), and are second in assists (13.6 a game), third in the conference in field goal percentage (42.0), fifth in 3-point percentage (31.2), sixth in rebounding (38.1 boards a contest) and sixth in steals (8.9 a game).
Cal State Monterey Bay averages 63.6 points a game, sixth best in the CCAA. The Otters are stingy on defense, ranking fourth in the conference by allowing just 58.8 points a contest. Monterey Bay is fifth in rebounding (38.2 a night) and fifth in assists (11.4 a game).
In order to win Friday, Chico State will need to neutralize senior guard Brandi Stephens, who averages a team-high 10.3 points a game. Junior forward Brittani Jefferson averages 9.5 points and is one of the CCAA’s top rebounders, pulling down 7.7 boards a contest. The Otters also feature two long-range scoring threats, senior guard Erika Ward and junior guard Stefanie Corgel, who have combined to knock down 101 3-pointers on the season.
Friday’s game will be broadcast live locally on 101.7 FM and 1340 AM Fox Sports Radio, with Mike Baca handling the play-by-play. The game can also be
heard online via the Wildcat Athletics website. All four of the tournament’s semifinals and both of the finals will also be broadcast on Comcast Hometown Network, which is channel 104 in the Chico area.
