Box Score LA JOLLA – It was a tale of two halves Friday night at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla. The No. 9 Chico State women’s basketball team shot a blistering 67 percent in the opening period, but could convert only seven shots in the second 20-minute stanza, letting a seven-point halftime lead slip away and seeing its season-opening10-game winning streak come to an end. UC San Diego took advantage by scoring 38 second half points and knocking off the Wildcats by a final of 71-65.
Chico State dropped to 10-1 overall, but despite Friday’s loss, remains alone in first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 6-1 conference mark. UC San Diego evened its season record at 7-7 and moved to within a game of the Wildcats in the CCAA, improving to 5-2 in conference play.
Analise Riezebos and Synchro Bull each scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats, with Riezebos also pulling down six rebounds. Monnie Davidson-Mays scored nine points and grabbed six boards, while McKenzie Dalthorp contributed nine points to the Wildcat attack. Daisy Feder, the CCAA’s top scorer, posted a game-high 19 points for the Tritons.
UC San Diego took advantage of early Chico State turnovers to jump on top 5-0, but two buckets by Bull and a Dalthorp layup keyed a 6-0 run to give the Wildcats their first lead of the night at 8-7. The Tritons scored eight of the next 14 points to go back up 15-14, only to see Hannah Womack and Annie Ward answer with back-to-back 3-pointers to help the ’Cats regain the lead.
UC San Diego again went on top 21-20, but Chico State rallied again – a 3-pointer by Jazmine Miller and baskets by Bull, Davidson-Mays and Riezebos fueled a 9-2 run as the ’Cats moved out in front, 29-23. The Tritons cut the deficit to three, but Davidson-Mays and Riezebos saw to it that the Wildcats would take a lead into intermission, combining for all 11 Wildcat points in the final 4:28 to give Chico State a 40-33 halftime advantage.
As hot as the Wildcats shot in the first half, they were just as cold in the second period. Chico State could score only 12 points in the first 15 minutes, and UC San Diego made their decisive move. Down 44-37, the Tritons ripped off a 13-2 run – highlighted by consecutive treys by Feder and Emily Osga – to fly out in front 50-46.
A Courtney Hamilton free throw and a layup by Riezebos drew the ’Cats to within one, but an 12-7 UC San Diego run beefed up the Tritons’ lead to 62-56. Hamilton converted a 3-point play, but Feder answered with a huge 3-pointer to up the Tritons up 65-59 with two minutes to go. A pair of Bull free throws and a Dalthorp layup cut the deficit in half with one minute to play, but Feder responded by hitting two clutch free throws with 32 seconds left to make it a two-possession game at 68-63.
The Wildcats tried to rally, as Bull converted two foul shots to pull the ’Cats to within three. They would turn out to be Chico State’s final points of the night, as UC San Diego iced the contest with three late free throws, giving the Tritons the 71-65 victory – the ninth straight time the Wildcats have fallen to UC San Diego at RIMAC Arena.
Chico State is back in action Saturday, taking on Cal State San Bernardino at Coussoulis Arena. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.; the game will be broadcast live locally on Newstalk 1290 AM KPAY and online via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats are also available online.
CLICK HERE for live online broadcast of Saturday's Chico State-Cal State San Bernardino game
CLICK HERE for Live Stats of Saturday's Chico State-Cal State San Bernardino game
