Box Score LOS ANGELES – Maybe it was just an off night offensively. Perhaps it was a subpar performance on defense. But it was certainly destiny – that is, Cal State L.A.'s 6-foot-2 senior center Destinee La Fountain – that played a predominant role in putting an end to the Chico State women's basketball team's seven-game winning streak. La Fountain was nearly unstoppable Friday night, scoring a season-high 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles past the Wildcats 83-71 at The Eagles' Nest.
Friday's loss dropped Chico State to 15-6 on the season and into fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 11-6 conference mark. Cal State L.A. chalked up its fifth straight win to improve to 15-6 overall and maintain a share of second place in the CCAA with a 12-5 conference record.
Chico State actually matched its season high with 11 3-pointers Friday, but shot just 36.5 percent on the night. Hannah Womack buried five of those treys and led the Wildcats with 21 points, while Jazmine Miller and Annie Ward each connected on three 3-pointers to finish with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Michelle Walker contributed 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Cal State L.A. was clearly the aggressor in the first half. The Golden Eagles scored the first five points of the contest, but Chico quickly answered with a 7-0 run – capped by a Hannah Womack 3-pointer – to briefly put the Wildcats on top. With Miller and Courtney Hamilton in early foul trouble, the Golden Eagles jumped back in front 16-10, only to see the 'Cats score seven of the next eight points to knot up the game at 17-all. The rest of the half was all Cal State L.A., which outscored Chico State 25-13 over the final 12 minutes of the period to take a 42-30 lead into intermission.
The Golden Eagles were still up by 11 in the opening minutes of the second half when Womack and Ward each railed a 3-pointer and Walker knocked down a jumper to highlight an 8-2 run to pull Chico State to within 50-45. Cal State L.A. immediately reeled off six straight points to extend its lead back to 11, but a Womack 3-pointer and free throws by Womack and Walker whittled the Wildcats' deficit to 58-51 with 9:46 to play. The Golden Eagles responded with a 15-5 run to balloon their lead to 17, and Chico State could get no closer than a dozen the rest of the way, as Cal State L.A. coasted to the 83-71 victory.
The Wildcats conclude their Southern California road swing Saturday, traveling to Carson to take on another tough CCAA opponent, Cal State Dominguez Hills (16-5, 12-5 CCAA). Tipoff at the Torodome is set for 5:30 p.m.
The game will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM Radio and simulcast on the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Wessels handling the play-by-play. Live Stats and streaming video will also be available online.
