CHICO – Six straight wins – that’s all that’s standing between the Chico State women’s basketball team and the national championship. For the second year in a row, the Wildcats are among the field of 64 vying for the top spot in Division II, and the first step towards the title happens Saturday, when the ’Cats play their NCAA West Regional opener in Bellingham, Wash. against Cal State Monterey Bay. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
Chico State, 23-5 overall and ranked No. 16 in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, is the No. 4 seed in the West Regional. The Wildcats square off against fifth-seeded Monterey Bay (19-8) for the third time this season and second in the last two weeks. The winner of Saturday’s tilt will play the winner of No. 1 seed Western Washington (25-3) and No. 8 Academy of Art (23-8) in Monday’s West Regional semifinal round.
The West Regional’s other first round games Saturday feature No. 2 Simon Fraser (23-5) against No. 7 Northwest Nazarene (20-8), and No. 3 UC San Diego (22-10) taking on No. 6 Grand Canyon (22-8).
Chico State is 2-3 this season against the teams that qualified for the NCAA West Regional. The Wildcats beat Western Washington 75-74 back in December, split their two regular season games with Cal State Monterey Bay, and lost each of their two contests against UC San Diego.
In the two Wildcats-Otters matchups, both teams won on the other’s home floor. Monterey Bay downed the ’Cats 51-44 Jan. 25 at Acker Gym, while Chico State handed the Otters an 84-75 overtime loss Mar. 1 at The Kelp Bed in Seaside.
Both teams are coming off losses in last week’s California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. The Wildcats were stopped in the semifinals by Cal State L.A. 53-66, with Monterey Bay was denied a trip to the tournament finals by UC San Diego, falling to the Tritons 67-51.
Saturday’s contest will pit the top scoring team in the CCAA against the conference’s second-stingiest defensive unit. Chico State is averaging 68.2 points a game, while Cal State Monterey Bay has allowed just 53.3 points per contest. The Otters score an average of 60 points a game, while the Wildcats surrender 60 points per game.
Chico State’s offense features a trio of double-digit scorers: Jazmine Miller (12.7 points a game), Monnie Davidson-Mays (10.3 ppg) and Hannah Womack (10.0 ppg), with McKenzie Dalthorp contributing 9.5 points per contest. Miller and Womack have combined to knock down 104 3-pointers on the season, with Annie Ward adding 28 buckets from 3-point land.
Courtney Hamilton led the CCAA and is 32nd in the nation in assists, averaging 4.7 dishes a game. Davidson-Mays and Analise Riezebos are the Wildcats’ top rebounders, averaging 6.0 boards a contest.
Cal State Monterey Bay is led by All-CCAA First Teamer Brittani Jefferson. The senior forward averages 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 0.78 blocks a game. Senior guard Stefanie Corgel averages 8.1 points a game and is the Otters’ top long distance threat with 43 3-pointers on the season. Senior guard Jessica Fontenette, a Second Team All-CCAA selection, averages 6.5 points and 2.6 steals per contest.
Chico State leads the all-time series between the two teams 14-5, but Monterey Bay has won four of the last seven meetings.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM with Mike Baca handling the play-by-play, and will be simulcast on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live video streaming will also be available online.
CLICK HERE for internet audio broadcast
CLICK HERE for Live Stats and live video streaming
CLICK HERE for official NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional web page
2013 NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGIONAL
Sam Carver Gymnasium
Bellingham, Wash. (host school: Western Washington University)
Saturday, March 16 – first round
Game #1 – 12 p.m. No. 3 seed UC San Diego (22-10) vs. No. 6 seed Grand Canyon (22-8)
Game #2 – 2:30 p.m. No. 2 seed Simon Fraser (23-5) vs. No. 7 seed Northwest Nazarene (20-8)
Game #3 – 5 p.m. No. 4 seed Chico State (23-5) vs. No. 5 seed Cal State Monterey Bay (19-8)
Game #4 – 7:30 p.m. No. 1 seed WWU (25-3) vs. No. 8 seed Academy of Art (23-8)
Monday, March 18 – semifinals
Game #5 – 12 p.m. Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2
Game #6 – 5 p.m. Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4
Tuesday, March 19 – West Regional finals
Game #7 – 6 p.m. Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 ?
2013 NCAA II ELITE EIGHT
March 20-21, 23 (Tue., Wed., Fri.)
at San Antonio, Texas (Bill Greehey Arena)
(host school – St. Mary’s)
