CHICO – On the strength of back-to-back wins last weekend in southern California, the Chico State women’s basketball team has moved up four spots to No. 9 in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches’ Poll and extended its lead in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings to two full games. As a result, the Wildcats have earned a prominent target on their collective back, with every conference team now making knocking off Chico State its top priority. The ’Cats return home this weekend to square off against two talented foes, with Cal State Monterey Bay in town Friday and Cal State East Bay visiting Acker Gym on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Chico State is 13-1 overall – the best start for a Wildcat women’s basketball team since the 2006-07 squad opened the season winning 14 of its first 15. Sitting atop the CCAA standings with a 9-1 conference mark, the ’Cats have won three straight, including victories last weekend over Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Chico State is the top scoring team in the CCAA entering the weekend, averaging 70.9 points a game, but the Wildcat offense will be put to the test this weekend against the conference’s two top defensive units. Cal State Monterey Bay (9-3 overall and in fifth place in the CCAA with a 6-3 conference mark) surrenders just 52.4 points a game, and has held opponents under 50 points in each of its last three games.
Cal State East Bay (5-8 on the season and in 10th place in the CCAA with a 3-6 conference record) is second in team defense, allowing just 54.2 points per contest. For their part, the Wildcats have been extremely consistent on the offensive end, scoring at least 62 points in all 14 games they’ve played this season. Chico State is no slouch on defense, either, giving up just 59.4 points a game.
Going back to the end of last season, Chico State has been unstoppable at home, winning its last 10 games at Acker Gym, and has proven to be tough to beat anywhere – the Wildcats have won 18 of their last 19 regular season games dating back to Feb. 11 of last year.
Cal State Monterey Bay comes into Friday’s contest also on a three-game winning streak. The Otters posted home victories last weekend over UC San Diego (57-48) and Cal State San Bernardino (55-47), and are an impressive 5-2 on the road this season. Monterey Bay averages 61.2 points a game (fifth among CCAA teams) and is third in the conference in rebounding (40.3 boards a contest).
Cal State East Bay, which comes to Acker Gym Saturday following its Friday matchup in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus, enters the weekend having lost four of its last six games and six of the last eight. The Pioneers split a pair of games last weekend, beating Cal State San Bernardino Friday 57-54 before bowing to UC San Diego Saturday 61-50. On the road this season, East Bay has lost three out of four away from Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.
The East Bay offense ranks last in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 54.2 points a game. The Pioneers don’t shoot many 3-pointers, averaging less than 11 attempts per game and connecting on just 35 treys all season. East Bay does quite a bit of damage underneath the basket – the Pioneers lead the CCAA in blocked shots (3.0 a game) and are fifth in the conference in rebounding (39.5 boards a contest).
Both games will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 AM KPAY and on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessels providing the play-by-play. Live Stats will also be available online.
CLICK HERE for online broadcast of Friday's Chico State-Cal State Monterey Bay game
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
