Box Score CHICO – The Chico State women's basketball team did an effective job of turning the page after Friday's home loss to Cal State East Bay, earning a split of its weekend homestand Saturday with a 62-48 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay. The Wildcats used a 15-0 first half run to take control of the contest, then withstood a charge by the Otters early in the second period to win going away and move back into the contention for one of the six California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) postseason berths.
With Saturday's win, Chico State improves to 9-5 on the season and moves into a tie with San Francisco State for seventh place in the CCAA with a 5-5 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay dropped its 10th straight decision to fall to 3-10 overall and 0-10 in CCAA play.
Hannah Womack led the 'Cats offense, connecting on three 3-pointers and all 10 of her free throws to finish with a game-high 19 points. Jazmine Miller posted 15 points and six rebounds, while Analise Riezebos contributed 13 points and five boards. Courtney Hamilton dished out six assists for the victorious Wildcats.
Chico State and Monterey Bay split the first 12 points of the contest, but four minutes into the game the Otters offense went ice cold, going scoreless for 10 full minutes. The Wildcats took full advantage – Riezebos delivered four buckets and Womack buried a 3-pointer to lead the 15-0 run that gave Chico State a 21-6 lead. Monterey Bay proceeded to score the next eight points to trim the deficit to seven, leaving it to Womack to get the Wildcats' offense back in gear – the junior nailed another 3-pointer and hit four free throws down the stretch, giving the Wildcats a 28-18 halftime lead.
Cal State Monterey, the top defensive team in the CCAA, held the 'Cats without a point through the first three-and-a-half minutes of the second half, pulling to within 28-25. Chico State responded with a 7-0 run – Hamilton and Dalthorp both hitting big buckets – and the Wildcats pushed its advantage back to 10 at 35-25. The 'Cats slowly extended its lead – a 3-point play by Miller capped off a 12-7 mini-run to make the score 47-32. The Otters closed to within 54-43 with 3:09 to play, but the Wildcats bookended four Womack free throws with buckets by Miller and Annie Ward to go up 60-43 and effectively put the game out of reach. Miller finished off the scoring with a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left, and Chico State came away with the 62-48 victory.
The Wildcats are on the road next week, traveling to Southern California Thursday to take on Cal Poly Poly Pomona. Saturday Chico State is in Arcata to battle Humboldt State. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
