Box Score CHICO – There hasn't been too many times this season when the Chico State women's basketball team has been outplayed in every facet of the game, but Friday at Acker Gym the Wildcats ran into a desperate Humboldt State squad that knew a loss would effectively end any hopes of playing in the postseason. As a result, the 'Jacks put it all together against the 'Cats, leading from start to finish and handing Chico State a 66-50 defeat to stay alive for the final berth in next week's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament.
Friday's loss – Chico State's second in a row – dropped the Wildcats to 17-8 overall and into a second place tie with UC San Diego in the CCAA with a 13-8 conference record. The 'Cats are still in the driver's seat to earn one of the two CCAA Championship Tournament first round byes, holding the tiebreaker over the Tritons by virtue of their Jan. 23 victory over conference champ Cal Poly Pomona, but still need to win the regular season finale Saturday over Pomona to insure the bye. Humboldt State won its third straight to improve to 14-11 on the season and 11-10 in CCAA play.
The 50 points scored by the Wildcats represented a single-game season low, as did their shooting, connecting on just 22.8 percent (13-for-57) of their shots. Chico State was outrebounded 42-38, and to add insult to injury, hit just 59.5 percent of its free throw attempts (22-for-37) – this from a team that had made over 82 percent of its foul shots in the previous nine games.
McKenzie Dalthorp was the lone Wildcat scoring in double figures, leading the team with 14 points. Jazmine Miller grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Courtney Hamilton tallied six points, hauled in four rebounds, dished out four assists, blocked two shots and nabbed three steals. Humboldt State had five different players score in double figures, with Amanda Kunst leading the 'Jacks with 14 points.
Humboldt State was blazing hot to begin the first half, connecting on its first nine shots to build a huge 23-5 lead. The Lumberjacks eventually cooled off, hitting just three of 13 shots the rest of the half, but Chico State could not capitalize, missing 20 of its 25 field goal attempts in the opening period. A jumper by Dalthorp late in the half brought the 'Cats to within nine points, but two Jain Tuey free throws got Humboldt State into the locker room with a 35-24 lead at intermission.
The Wildcats shot slightly better in the second half, but the Lumberjacks never relinquished their double-digit lead. A Michelle Walker offensive board and putback pulled Chico State to within 42-32, but Humboldt State responded by holding the 'Cats scoreless for the next six minutes while ballooning its advantage to 52-32. With time running down, the Wildcats used an effective trap defense to force several Lumberjack turnovers and convert some late buckets to whittle the deficit to 59-48 with 2:05 to go. But it would be as close as the 'Cats could get, and a 3-pointer by Kersey Wilcox with 21 seconds left provided the exclamation mark as Humboldt State cruised to the convincing 66-50 victory.
The Wildcats wrap up the regular season tomorrow night at home against Cal Poly Pomona, with Senior Night festivities highlighting the evening. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.; the game will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM and simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website with Mike Baca and Mike Wessels handling the play-by-play.
Following Saturday's contest, Chico State will head to Ontario's Citizens Business Bank Arena next week to take part in the CCAA Championship Tournament.
