Box Score HAYWARD – The pregame script was not exactly encouraging for the Chico State women’s basketball team – the Wildcats playing on the road against Cal State East Bay, the top defensive team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and, with nine consecutive wins, the hottest team in the conference. But the ’Cats, the No. 15 team in the nation and third in the NCAA West Region rankings, dug deep down the stretch, and used a 17-7 run in the final seven minutes to claw their way to a 59-56 victory Thursday at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.
With the win – Chico State’s 11th in 12 tries on the road – the Wildcats improved to 21-4 on the season, and remain tied with UC San Diego atop the CCAA standings with a 17-4 conference record. Cal State East Bay saw its winning streak go by the boards to fall to 15-10 overall and 13-8 in CCAA play.
Jazmine Miller hit all three of her 3-point attempts and led the Wildcats with 17 points. Hannah Womack also drained a trio of 3’s and finished with 16 points; McKenzie Dalthorp added 12 points and six rebounds, and Monnie Davidson-Mays contributed eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the victorious ’Cats. Chico State shot 43.8 percent on the night, and hit six of 11 3-pointers. Tori Breshers led Cal State East Bay with 15 points.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 12-2 advantage on the strength of two Miller 3-pointers, two Dalthorp layups and a basket by Davidson-Mays. Cal State East Bay answered with nine straight points to pull to within 12-11, but buckets by Hannah Womack and Analise Riezebos kept the ’Cats in front. After the Pioneers grabbed their first lead, 17-16, Chico State went on a 12-0 run – fueled by a pair of Womack 3-pointers – to put the Wildcats back on top 28-17. The ’Cats were still on top 34-25 before East Bay scored the period’s final six points to cut Chico State’s lead to 34-31 at intermission.
East Bay’s conference-leading defense set the tone in the second half. After Dalthorp converted a layup to give the Wildcats a 36-31 lead, the Pioneers defense held the ’Cats without a field goal for nearly nine minutes, and used a 14-3 run to go out in front 45-39. Womack finally ended the Chico State shooting drought by draining a 3-pointers, but back-to-back East Bay buckets extended the Pioneers’ lead to 49-42 with 6:50 remaining.
The Wildcats, now with their backs to the wall, suddenly saw its offense come alive, scoring nine unanswered points – seven from Miller – in a 1:45 stretch to roar back out in front, 51-49. After East Bay tied the game at 51-apiece, it was the Wildcats’ turn to flex their defensive muscles, denying the Pioneers a basket for over four-and-a-half minutes. Chico State proceeded to take command of the contest, as Miller, Davidson-Mays and Synchro Bull led an 8-1 run with buckets down the stretch to take a 59-52 with just 11 seconds left. Amazingly, East Bay scored two baskets in the waning seconds to make it a one possession game, but the ’Cats were able to run out the clock and come away with a 59-56 victory and a season sweep of the Pioneers.
Chico State concludes regular season play Friday, taking on Cal State Monterey Bay (18-6 overall, 15-6 CCAA) at The Kelp Bed in Seaside. A win by the Wildcats will lock up at least a share of the CCAA regular season title.
The game will be broadcast live locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY AM and simulcast on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Baca providing the play-by-play. Live Stats and live video streaming will also be available online.
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