CHICO – The Chico State women's basketball team has clinched a spot in next week's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament, but the Wildcats knows there's still some important business to attend to. The 'Cats close out the 2013-14 regular season this weekend at Acker Gym, knowing that one victory in their last two games will lock down one of the CCAA Championship Tournament's sought-after first-round byes. Brian Fogel's squad has its work cut out for them, as they host a desperate Humboldt State team Friday followed by CCAA regular season champion and 15th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.

Where they stand: Chico State is 17-7 overall and all alone in second place in the CCAA standings with a 13-7 conference record. The Wildcats are also sitting at No. 5 in the NCAA West Region rankings for the second straight week. The 'Cats have won nine of their last 11 games, but have split the last four contests. Last weekend Chico State wrapped up its regular season road schedule by beating Cal State Monterey Bay 64-56 Friday before dropping a 63-60 decision Saturday in Hayward against Cal State East Bay.


Team statistics: Chico State is fourth among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 69.7 points a game. Defensively, the Wildcats rank sixth in the conference, allowing 63.2 points per contest. The 'Cats lead the CCAA in assists (15.0 a game), are second in field goal percentage (42.8 percent) and free throw percentage (74.8 percent), and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (32.4 percent).

Individual achievements: As has been the case all season, several Wildcat players are representing Chico State at or near the top of various conference statistical categories:
     - Courtney Hamilton leads the CCAA (and is third in the nation) in assists (6.6 a game) and is tops in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0). Hamilton also ranks second in the CCAA in steals (2.2 a game) and seventh in blocked shots (1.0 per contest).
     - Jazmine Miller, Chico State's leading scorer (13.1 points per game) ranks 13th among CCAA players. She is third in the conference in free throw percentage (87.8 percent) and tied for seventh in 3-point field goals (43).
     - Hannah Womack (10.8 points a game) is second in the CCAA (and seventh in the nation) in free throw percentage (90.6 percent), is tied for seventh in 3-point field goals (43) and is 10th in 3-point field goal percentage (35.2 percent).
     - Analise Riezebos is second among CCAA shooters in field goal percentage (51.6 percent) and eighth in the conference in rebounding (7.3 boards a game).
     - McKenzie Dalthorp is fourth in the CCAA in field goal percentage (51.4 percent).
     - Annie Ward is fifth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8 percent) and ranks 11th in the CCAA in 3-point field goals (38) and field goal percentage (45.7 percent).

Humboldt State: The Lumberjacks are still in the hunt for a CCAA Championship Tournament berth, and that's after they were essentially given up for dead a week ago. Humboldt State kept its postseason hopes alive with two huge wins last weekend over Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills, improving the Lumberjacks' overall record to 13-11 and 10-10 in CCAA play. Humboldt enters the final weekend of the regular season tied with Cal State Stanislaus and San Francisco State for seventh place in the conference standings, but will need to win its final two games and get some help to earn one of the six CCAA Championship Tournament berths.

On the road: Humboldt State is 6-7 away from Lumberjack Arena in Arcata, and has lost six of nine conference decisions on the road this season.

Team statistics: The Lumberjacks are fifth in the CCAA in scoring (68.8 points a game) and rank ninth in team defense, allowing an average of 66.7 points a night. Humboldt likes to shoot from long distance – the Lumberjacks average nearly 21 3-point shot attempts a game. As a result, Humboldt leads the CCAA in 3-pointers (167) and is third in 3-point percentage (33.4 percent). The Lumberjacks are the top free throw shooting team in the conference (75.0 percent), while ranking second in the CCAA in blocked shots (3.6 a game), fourth in rebounding (39.4 boards a game) and fifth in assists (13.1 per game).

Lumberjacks to watch: Junior guard Kersey Wilcox is third in the CCAA in scoring (16.3 points a game) and second in assists (5.0 per contest), while shooting a conference-best 91.0 percent at the free throw line. Junior center Megan Shields averages 11.4 points a contest and is seventh in the CCAA in rebounding (7.4 a game). Junior guard Jae Shin leads the conference with 56 3-pointers while averaging 9.2 points a game, with junior guard Danielle Gaumer (7.8 points per game) contributing another 38 3-pointers to the Lumberjack attack.

Head-to-head: Chico State won the first meeting of the season, erasing a 15-point second half deficit to beat the Lumberjacks 69-66 Jan. 25 in Arcata. The Wildcats have won the last five matchups with the 'Jacks and lead the all-time series 67-20.

Cal Poly Pomona: The No. 15 Broncos (20-4 overall, 17-3 CCAA) enter the weekend having won their last two games and eight of the last nine. Pomona clinched the CCAA regular season conference crown (and a first round conference tournament bye) last weekend with victories over Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A.

On the road: The Broncos are 8-2 away from their home floor, Kellogg Gym, and have won six of their last seven road decisions.

Team statistics: Pomona is the top-scoring team in the CCAA, averaging 73.1 points a game. Defensively, the Broncos are tied for seventh in the conference, giving up 64.4 points a contest. Pomona leads the CCAA in field goal percentage (43.4 percent), is second in 3-point field goal percentage (34.4 percent), rebounds (43.0 a game) and assists (14.8 per contest), and ranks third in free throw percentage (73.3 percent).

Broncos to watch: Junior center Jada Blackwell leads the CCAA in scoring (17.2 points a game), is second in rebounding (9.2 boards a night) and fourth in blocks (1.48 a contest). The conference's No. 2 scorer is Blackwell's Bronco teammate, junior guard Ariel Marsh (17.0 points a game), who is tied for second in the CCAA with 54 3-pointers. Junior forward Ashley Lovett (10.2 points a game) is the conference's most consistent shooter (51.7 percent) and is third in rebounding (8.5 boards a game), while senior guard J.J. Judge has hit 33 3-pointers and is averaging 10.0 points and 5.3 rebounds a game.

Head-to-head: Chico State outgunned the Broncos in the season's first meeting Jan. 23 in Pomona, as six Wildcats posted double-digit scoring nights in an 85-73 victory. The 'Cats have won the last three matchups with the Broncos to take a 22-21 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.

Coverage: Both games will be broadcast live locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM and simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessels providing the play-by-play. Live Stats will also be available online for each contest.