CHICO – Four games remain on the Chico State women's basketball team's regular season schedule – and as is usually the case, they're all huge. Fighting to secure a high finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings – which could result in a first-round conference tournament bye – and position themselves for one of the eight NCAA Championship Tournament West Region berths, the Wildcats hit the road this weekend to take on Cal State Monterey Bay Friday and Cal State East Bay on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Where they stand: Chico State is 16-6 overall and tied with Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills for second place in the CCAA with a 12-6 conference mark. In the first NCAA Regional rankings released Wednesday, the Wildcats are the No. 5 team in the West. The 'Cats enter the weekend having won eight of their last nine contests – after seeing their seven-game win streak go by the boards Friday at the hands of Cal State L.A. 83-71, Chico State bounced back Saturday to edge Cal State Dominguez Hills 54-51, providing Brian Fogel with his 200th career victory as an NCAA head coach.
On the road: The Wildcats are 8-4 on the road this season, but just 5-4 away from Acker Gym in CCAA conference play.
Team statistics: Chico State is ranked third among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 70.4 points a game, while on defense, the Wildcats are fifth in the conference, allowing 63.5 points a contest. The 'Cats lead the CCAA in assists (15.2 a game), rank second in field goal percentage (43.1 percent) and free throw percentage (73.7 percent), and are fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (32.8 percent).
Individual achievements: Several Wildcat players are among the conference elite in various statistical categories:
- Courtney Hamilton is No. 1 in the CCAA (and third in the nation) in assists, averaging 6.7 per game, while topping the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). She also ranks third in the conference in steals (2.2 a game) and sixth in blocked shots (1.0).
- Jazmine Miller, the 'Cats' leading scorer (13.4 points a game) is 13th among CCAA players. She ranks third in the conference in free throw percentage (87.0 percent) and is tied for sixth in 3-point field goals (41).
- Hannah Womack, averaging 11.4 points a contest, leads the CCAA (and is fifth in the nation) in free throw percentage (91.6 percent). She is tied for sixth in the conference in 3-point field goals (41) and ranks 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.6 percent).
- Analise Riezebos owns a pair of CCAA top 10 rankings – she is third in the conference in field goal percentage (51.2 percent) and seventh in rebounding (7.4 a game).
- Annie Ward is ninth in the CCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (36.8 percent) and 12th in field goal percentage (45.3 percent).
- McKenzie Dalthorp is tied for sixth place in the CCAA in field goal percentage (50.0 percent).
Cal State Monterey Bay: It's been a long season for the Otters, who come into Friday night's action 5-16 overall and in last place in the CCAA with a 2-16 conference record. Monterey Bay has lost 16 of 18 after beginning the season with three straight wins. The Otters came up short twice at home last week, bowing to UC San Diego Thursday 56-48 and falling 67-51 Saturday in a nationally-televised game against Cal State San Bernardino.
At home: The Otters are 2-8 this season at The Kelp Bed in Seaside. Monterey Bay's lone conference win on its home floor was a 50-36 victory Jan. 25 over Sonoma State.
Team statistics: Though Monterey Bay is the lowest-scoring team in the CCAA, averaging just 54.2 points a game, the Otters boast the second-best defense in the conference, giving up just 60.6 points a contest. Monterey Bay ranks fifth in the CCAA in both rebounding (39.6 boards per game) and steals (8.0 a game).
Otters to watch: Junior guard Nikki Beckman, the 2012-13 CCAA Newcomer of the Year, is the Otters' top scorer (10.5 points a game), but a January knee injury has sidelined her for the remainder of the season. Senior forward Ashley Morgan has taken up much of the slack, averaging 9.5 points a game while leading Monterey Bay in rebounds (6.4 a game) and 3-pointers (29). Senior guard Chelza Self, who scored a season-high 17 points Jan. 18 in the first meeting with Chico State, averages 8.0 points and 1.7 steals per contest.
Head to head: In the first meeting of the season, a 15-0 run early in the first half set the tone for the Wildcats' 62-48 victory over the Otters Jan. 18 at Acker Gym. Though Monterey Bay has won five of the last nine contests with the 'Cats, Chico State leads the all-time series 15-6.
Cal State East Bay: A month ago, the Pioneers were 12-7 and in the upper reaches of the CCAA standings. Since then, East Bay has lost six in a row and is now fighting for its postseason life, currently sitting at 12-13 overall and in eighth place in the CCAA with a 9-9 conference mark. The Pioneers dropped a pair at home last week, losing 75-71 Thursday to Cal State San Bernardino and 59-50 Saturday to UC San Diego.
At home: Cal State East Bay is tough to beat on its home floor, having won six of its nine games this season at Pioneer Gymnasium.
Team statistics: The Pioneers are eighth in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 66.5 points a game, while defensively Cal State East Bay ranks fourth among the 12 conference teams, surrendering 62.0 points per contest. East Bay is third in the CCAA is assists (13.9 a game), steals (9.3 a contest) and blocks (3.0 per game), and ranks fourth in field goal percentage (42.0 percent).
Pioneers to watch: Senior forward Brianna Terrance is the fifth-leading scorer in the CCAA, averaging 15.1 points a game. Junior center Danielle Peacon contributes 12.1 points and 6.5 rebounds a contest, and is third in the conference in blocks (1.7 a game). Junior guard Stephanie Lopez is averaging 11.8 points a game and is one of East Bay's top long-distance shooters (20 3-pointers); she also ranks third in the CCAA in assists (4.2 a game).
Head to head: East Bay led from start to finish in the first meeting this season between the two teams, withstanding a late Wildcat rally to win 64-61 Jan. 17 at Acker Gym. Despite last month's loss, Chico State has won 18 of the last 20 meetings with the Pioneers dating back to 1993 and leads the all-time series 53-13.
Coverage: Both games will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM and simulcast on the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Baca providing the play-by-play. Live Stats and streaming video will also be available for both Friday and Saturday contests.
