CHICO – The handful of non-conference games are officially in the rear view mirror, and after a 3-1 start, the Chico State women's basketball team is setting its sights on the main event: California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. The Wildcats' 2014-15 conference season begins this weekend in Southern California as Head Coach Brian Fogel's squad squares off against Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday and Cal State L.A. on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m. 
 
Chico State kicks off the conference schedule having played just one game since Nov. 22, but it had a positive outcome. The Wildcats used their final CCAA tune-up to score a convincing 70-40 victory last Sunday over Holy Names.
 
The Wildcats currently rank sixth among the 12 CCAA teams in offense, averaging 71.2 points per game. On defense, Chico State is third in the conference, allowing just 60.8 points a night. The 'Cats are 2-1 on the road so far this season.
 
Individually, Hannah Womack and Annie Ward are putting up the most impressive numbers for the 'Cats. Womack is ninth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 14.5 points a game, and her eight 3-pointers are tied for the seventh-most in the conference. Ward, coming off a season-high 16-point performance against Holy Names, is among the CCAA's top 20 scorers, averaging 11.8 points a contest.
 
Chanelle Di Croce is 10th in the conference in rebounding, averaging 6.5 boards a game, followed closely by Wildcat teammate Brooke Bowen, averaging 6.3 rebounds a night.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills, coached by former Wildcat mentor Molly Goodenbour, is 3-3 on the season heading into Friday's conference opener against Chico State. The Toros, one of the favorites in the CCAA preseason coaches' poll, return 10 players from last season's 20-10 team that reached the NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Dominguez Hills finished a challenging non-conference scheduled last Saturday with a come-from-behind 60-56 win over Point Loma on the final day of the Cal State L.A. Thanksgiving Classic. Dominguez Hills is 1-0 this season playing on its home floor, the Torodome.
 
The Toros are ninth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 68.7 points per game. Defensively, Dominguez Hills ranks sixth in the conference, giving up an average of 65.8 points a contest.
 
Junior guard Breanne Garcia is the Toros' leading scorer, averaging 13.0 points a game. Senior forward Tayler Champion, a Second Team All-CCAA selection last season, is averaging 12.5 points a game and is third in the conference with 13 3-pointers. Senior guard Talia Rayford is averaging 12.5 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds a contest.
 
Chico State won three of the four meetings last season with Dominguez Hills. The 'Cats swept the regular season series, with the Toros knocking Chico State out of the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Wildcats returned the favor Mar. 14, eliminating Dominguez Hills 90-70 in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Chico State has won 11 of the last 12 matchups with the Toros and lead the all-time series 37-12.
 
Cal State L.A., a 17-11 team last season, is 1-3 entering the weekend. The Golden Eagles return six players and have added a Division I transfer (6'1" senior forward Kiara Harewood from UC Riverside) and three players from San Francisco City College. Cal State L.A., which is 1-2 on it home floor, the Eagles' Nest, split its two Thanksgiving Classic games last weekend, notching the team's first victory of the season Friday with a 50-36 win over Point Loma before dropping a 70-65 decision Saturday to Cal Baptist.
 
Cal State L.A. averages just 60.2 points on offense (10th in the CCAA), but is stingy on defensive, holding opposing teams to just 60.2 points a game (second-lowest among conference teams).
 
The Golden Eagles are led by junior guard Kaija Powell (15.5 points/4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game). Junior forwards Kiah Knox and Geena Greene are both averaging over six points and six rebounds a contest.
 
Chico State and Cal State L.A. split the season series in 2013-14, and while the Golden Eagles have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, the Wildcats lead the all-time series 32-11.
 
Fans can follow both Chico State women's basketball games this weekend with Mike Baca calling the action locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY and on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live pay-per-view streaming video will also be available online for both contests.