ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Chico State women's basketball team, through sheer hustle and execution, literally stole a victory from host Dixie State Friday during opening night action at the Dixie Thanksgiving Classic. Down five points with less than a minute to play, the Wildcats outscored the Red Storm 8-1 down the stretch, and Hannah Womack provided the dramatics by burying a 3-pointer with two ticks left on the clock to give the 'Cats a stunning 70-68 win at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah.
Friday's win gives Chico State a 2-0 record and its first road victory of the young season. Dixie State dropped to 0-2 overall.
Hannah Womack hit three 3-pointers -
including the game-winner - and led the
Wildcats with 17 points.Womack not only hit the game-winning trey, she led the Wildcats with 17 points while adding five assists. Michelle Walker tallied 11 points and five rebounds; Whitney Branham scored 10, and Chanelle Di Croce chipped in with eight points and five boards.
Chico State used a 3-pointer by Branham and buckets by Brooke Bowen and Annie Ward to jump out to an early 7-2 lead. Dixie State pulled to within one, only to see the Wildcats respond with six unanswered points – a Courtney Brignac jumper and layups by Natalie Valenzuela and Haley Cremen – to extend their advantage to 13-6. The Red Storm knotted up the contest at 15-all, but a 9-2 Chico State run put the Wildcats back on top 24-17. Dixie State scored 12 of the next 17 points to pull even at 29-all, but the 'Cats went back on top again thanks to a Bowen layup and a pair of Walker free throws. Dixie State completed the first half scoring with a jumper, and the two teams went into intermission tied 33-33.
Chico State spotted the Red Storm the first basket of the second half, then went up 38-35 on the strength of a Di Croce 3-pointer and a layup by Ward. The 'Cats' offense suddenly went ice cold, going over four minutes without a point, allowing Dixie State to score 10 straight to take a 45-38 lead. The Wildcats chipped away at the deficit – Brignac, Di Croce and Tyler Prange delivered layups and Walker a jumper and free throw to make it a 48-47 game.
Dixie State was still on top 54-50 when the Chico State defense stiffened, holding the Red Storm scoreless for over three minutes, allowing the Wildcats to take a 56-54 lead thanks to two Bowen baskets and a Womack layup. The game was tied 60-60 with 2:15 to play when Dixie surged ahead, stretching the advantage to 67-62 with half a minute remaining. A huge three-point play by Di Croce with 18 seconds to go brought Chico State to within two, then after the Red Storm converted a free throw, Branham made a layup to make it a one-point game with eight seconds left. The Wildcats forced a turnover on Dixie's inbounds pass, and with 1.6 seconds to go, Womack drained the game-winning 3-pointer to give Chico State the thrilling 70-68 victory.
Chico State wraps up the Dixie Thanksgiving Classic Saturday, taking on Alaska Fairbanks at 11 a.m. Pacific time. The Nanooks are 4-0 on the young season, including an 80-78 victory over Cal State San Marcos Friday in its Dixie Thanksgiving Classic opener. Fans can follow the action online with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website.
