CHICO – The Chico State women’s basketball team has already clinched a spot in next month’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, and is prominently in the mix for receiving a postseason bid to compete for the national title. But the Wildcats know that their final four games of the 2012-13 campaign will go a long way in dictating their place in the postseason play. The ’Cats, sitting at No. 13 in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the NCAA West Regional rankings, host Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. Saturday in key conference matchups at Acker Gym. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Chico State enters the weekend 19-3 overall and in a tie with UC San Diego atop the CCAA standings with a 15-3 conference record. The ’Cats need just one victory over their last four regular season games to secure a first round home game in the CCAA Championship Tournament.
Last weekend the Wildcats ran their winning streak to six with an 81-61 pasting of Cal State San Bernardino Friday night before losing a 67-65 heartbreaker Saturday to UC San Diego. Despite the loss, the ’Cats have won nine of their 11 games played this season at Acker Gym.
Chico State not only holds a share of first place in the conference standings, but the Wildcats can lay claim to being one of the top offensive teams in the CCAA. The ’Cats are No. 1 in scoring, averaging 69 points a game, but also lead the conference in assists (15.3 per game) and field goal percentage (42.6 percent) while ranking second among CCAA teams in 3-point field goal percentage (33.8 percent).
Defensively, the Wildcats are sixth in the CCAA, giving up an average of 59.1 points a game, but are second in the conference in steals (10.0 a game) and blocked shots (2.6 a night).
Individually, Jazmine Miller continues to shine, ranking seventh in the CCAA in scoring (12.6 points a game) and in the top 10 in 3-point field goal percentage (second, 44.3 percent), 3-point field goals (tied for third with 43), free throw percentage (sixth, 79.4 percent) and field goal percentage (10th, 46.5 percent). Miller’s 1.7 steals per game is the eighth-highest average in the conference.
Monnie Davidson-Mays and McKenzie Dalthorp are both among the CCAA’s top 20 scorers, averaging 10.3 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. Davidson is also fourth in the conference in steals (2.0 a game), while Dalthorp is No. 3 in free throw shooting (81.4 percent).
Courtney Hamilton is the CCAA’s top distributor, averaging 5.1 assists per game, and is tied for the conference lead in blocks (20) and blocks per game (0.9). The junior point guard also ranks third in steals (2.1 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8).
Synchro Bull enters the weekend as the CCAA’s top free throw shooter. The senior is shooting an impressive 85.1 percent from the foul line. Analise Riezebos is 10th in the conference in rebounding, grabbing an average of 6.7 boards a game.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Wildcats’ Friday night opponent, is 7-15 overall and tied with Sonoma State for ninth place in the CCAA with a 6-12 conference record. The Toros have struggled lately, though, losing four straight, forcing them to have to finish the season strong for any chance of qualifying for the CCAA Championship Tournament. Last weekend Dominguez Hills lost a pair at home, bowing to Sonoma State 72-71 and San Francisco State 58-49.
The Toros are 3-7 on the road this season. Friday’s game will also serve as a homecoming of sorts for Dominguez Hills Head Coach Molly Goodenbour – Brian Fogel’s predecessor guided the ’Cats to a 52-11 record in her two seasons as Chico State head coach.
Monay Lee is the Toros’ top scoring threat. The freshman guard is sixth in the CCAA, averaging 14.6 points a game, and also grabs 5.5 rebounds a contest. Junior guard Jamie Robinson is the conference’s top rebounder (8.5 boards per game) and is ninth in the CCAA in scoring (12.0 points a game). Freshman guard Denisha Lundy is the No. 1 3-point shooter for Dominguez Hills, knocking down 26 treys on the season.
Chico State won the first meeting of the year between the two teams, beating Dominguez Hills 70-63 Jan. 19 at the Torodome in Carson. Four Wildcats scored in double figures – Monnie Davidson-Mays leading the way with 18 points – to offset Jamie Robinson’s 20 point, 15 rebound performance for the Toros.
The ’Cats have won the last seven contests with Dominguez Hills and lead the all-time series 33-11.
Cal State L.A., which comes to Chico following its road tilt Friday in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus, enters the weekend 15-10 on the season and in fifth place in the CCAA with a 10-8 conference record. After a sensational start, the Golden Eagles have lost five of their last six to tumble down the upper half of the CCAA standings. Last weekend Cal State L.A. split their two home games, beating San Francisco State Friday 75-60 before being blasted by Sonoma State 61-41 on Saturday.
Cal State L.A. has been competitive on the road, winning six of its 11 games played away from their home gym, The Eagles’ Nest.
The Golden Eagles know how to put the ball in the bucket. Cal State L.A. is second in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 66.4 points a game, and is among the top three teams in the conference in free throw percentage (second, 71.3 percent), field goal percentage (third, 40.8 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (third, 33.8 percent). Defensively, the Golden Eagles rank eighth in the CCAA, surrendering an average of 62.2 points a game.
Cal State L.A. is led by senior guard Tessondra Williams, who ranks third in the CCAA in scoring (18.4 points a game) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (41.8 percent). Senior forward Richelle Najera is the Golden Eagles’ top rebounder (6.6 boards a contest), while sophomore guard Paige Melville contributes 7.8 points and a team-high 2.7 assists a game.
Chico State edged Cal State L.A. 73-67 in the season’s first meeting Jan. 18 at The Eagles’ Nest. In that game, Hannah Womack, McKenzie Dalthorp and Monnie Davidson-Mays combined for 45 points to lead the Wildcats.
Chico State has won 21 of the last 23 meetings with the Golden Eagles and lead the all-time series 31-8.
Both Friday and Saturday’s games will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 AM KPAY and on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats will also be available online.
CLICK HERE for online audio broadcast
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
