CHICO – The postseason doesn’t get underway until next week, but the Chico State women’s basketball team will get an early taste of playoff intensity this Thursday and Friday, as the Wildcats hit the road for the final two games of the regular season. The ’Cats’ will face two other teams that, like Chico State, are heading for postseason play and looking to strengthen their chances of reaching the NCAA Championship Tournament. The Wildcats take on Cal State East Bay Thursday night, then visit Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.
The Wildcats sit at 20-4 on the season and are the No. 15 team in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches Poll. Chico State is still battling for a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular season title – the ’Cats head into the week tied for first place with UC San Diego with a 16-4 conference record.
Of perhaps even greater importance is where the ’Cats reside in the NCAA West Region rankings. Chico State is currently No. 3 in the West, with the top eight teams qualifying for the NCAA Championship Tournament. A strong regular season finish and a solid showing in next week’s CCAA Championship Tournament could result in the Wildcats earning the right to host the NCAA West Regional.
Chico State split its final regular season home games last weekend, beating Cal State Dominguez Hills 73-58 before dropping a 77-63 decision to Cal State L.A. on Saturday. The win over the Toros Friday clinched a March 5 home game in the first round of the CCAA Championship Tournament.
The Wildcats remain the top scoring team in the CCAA, averaging 68.9 points a game, and lead the conference in field goal percentage (42.1 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (35.1 percent) and assists (15.2 a game). Defensively, Chico State ranks seventh in the CCAA, allowing 59.8 points a contest, but are No. 2 in both team steals (9.7 a game) and blocked shots (2.8 per night).
On the individual state sheet, Jazmine Miller is eighth among CCAA players in scoring (12.5 points a game) and is in the top 10 in 3-point field goal percentage (ranking second at 43.8 percent), 3-point field goals (tied for third with 49), free throw percentage (fourth, 80.0 percent) and steals (eighth, 1.6 a game).
Courtney Hamilton tops the conference in assists, averaging 5.0 a game, is second in blocks (0.9 a game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) and fourth in steals (1.9). Monnie Davidson-Mays is 16th in the CCAA in scoring (10.5 points a game), and is third in steals (2.1 per contest) and eighth in field goal percentage (46.7 percent).
Two other Wildcats also rank among the conference leaders. McKenzie Dalthorp is 19th in scoring (9.7 points a game) and is fifth in free throw percentage (78.3 percent), while Hannah Womack is sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (36.6 percent) and ninth in 3-point field goals (37).
The Wildcats will need to deliver those offensive numbers as they face the top two defensive teams in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay leads the conference, holding opponents to just 50 points a game (44.8 during the Pioneers’ current nine-game winning streak), while Cal State Monterey Bay is second, allowing only 51.3 points per contest. Chico State has fared extremely well on the road this season, winning 10 of their 11 games away from Acker Gym.
Cal State East Bay (15-9 overall) has not lost since falling to the Wildcats Jan. 26 in Chico. As a result, the Pioneers have roared into fourth place in the CCAA with a 13-7 conference record. Last weekend East Bay won a pair of big road contests, upsetting UC San Diego 59-44 Friday at RIMAC Arena, then disposing of Cal State San Bernardino 42-39 on Saturday. The Pioneers, 8-5 at home this season, can clinch a first round CCAA Championship Tournament home game with wins over Chico State Thursday and Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.
East Bay is not a big scoring team, ranking last in the CCAA with a 54.3 points per game average. The Pioneers are led by junior forward Brianna Terrance, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. Sophomore guard Micah Walker contributes 8.2 points a contest and is East Bay’s top long range shooter with 17 3-pointers on the season. Senior forward Marlene MacMillian averages 7.3 points a game and is the No. 2 rebounder in the CCAA, grabbing 7.7 boards a night.
Chico State has won 17 of the last 18 meetings with Cal State East Bay heading into Thursday’s matchup. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 52-12.
Cal State Monterey is 17-6 on the season and in third place in the CCAA with a 14-6 conference record. The Otters, ranked No. 4 in the West Region, have already punched their ticket to the CCAA Championship Tournament, and need to win one of their final two regular season games to clinch a first round home game.
Monterey Bay stumbled last weekend on the road, though, losing to Cal State San Bernardino 58-49 and UC San Diego 56-44. The Otters have done well this season at home, winning eight of 10 at The Kelp Bed.
Monterey Bay ranks seventh in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 58.5 points a game. Brittani Jefferson is the Otters’ top scorer and rebounder, averaging 10.8 points and 7.6 boards a night, respectively. Senior guard Stepfanie Corgel (8.3 points a game) ranks eighth in the conference with 40 3-pointers.
Monterey Bay was the victor in the season’s first meeting with Chico State, beating the Wildcats 51-44 Jan. 25 at Acker Gym. Though the Otters have won four of the last six matchups with the ’Cats, Chico State leads the all-time series, 13-5.
Both Thursday and Friday’s games will be broadcast locally with Mike Baca on the play-by-play on Newstalk 1290 AM KPAY, and simulcast on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats will also be available online.
CLICK HERE for live internet broadcast of Thursday's Chico State-Cal State East Bay women's basketball game
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
