Box Score POMONA – It wasn't so much about payback as it was making sure the season didn't end in Friday's opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Of course, knocking out the team that beat you in the conference tournament can certainly be viewed as an added bonus. The Chico State women's basketball team rode a 59-point second half to blitz Cal State Dominguez Hills 90-70 at Kellogg Gym to advance to the NCAA West Region semifinals, where the Wildcats will take on top seed Cal Poly Pomona Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The 90 points are the most ever scored in a postseason game in the history of Wildcat women's basketball. By beating Dominguez Hills for the third time in four tries this season, Chico State improves to 19-9 overall and wins its first NCAA Championship Tournament game since an 86-76 victory over Humboldt State in the 2009-10 NCAA West Regional. The Toros, led by former Wildcat head coach Molly Goodenbour, sees their season come to a close with a 20-10 record.
The Wildcats shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the field and connected on 32 of their 38 free throw attempts in Friday's win. The 'Cats also outboarded the CCAA's top rebounding team, 38-35, and held Dominguez Hills to just 37.3 percent shooting.
Chico State had four players score in double figures. Jazmine Miller and Courtney Hamilton led the way with 17 points apiece and combined for 13 rebounds, while Hannah Womack knocked down a pair of 3-pointers on the way to a 16-point effort – her biggest scoring night in over a month. Ashtyn Anderson came off the bench to contribute a career-high 10 points in addition to pulling down five rebounds. Analise Riezebos came within a whisker of a double-double, scoring eight points and hauling in 10 rebounds on the night.
The first half was a tightly played affair – although Chico State never trailed through the first 19-and-a-half minutes, the contest was tied seven times. There were precious few fast break opportunities, as both teams relentlessly pounded the ball inside. Layups by Miller, Riezebos, McKenzie Dalthorp and Annie Ward staked the Wildcats to an early 14-8 lead, but it didn't take long for the Toros to pull even. The game was still tied at 26-all when Womack nailed a 3-pointer and Hamilton dropped in a pair of free throws to put the 'Cats up 31-26 with 3:44 remaining in the half. But the Chico State offense fell silent for the rest of the period, as Dominguez Hills scored six unanswered points to take a 32-31 lead into the locker room at intermission.
The Wildcats came roaring out of the gate in the second half and quickly began to take control of the contest – layups by Hamilton and Ward and a 3-point play by Miller highlighted a 9-0 run to put Chico State in front 40-32, then following a Dominguez Hills free throw, three buckets by Anderson and a 3-pointer by Ward upped the 'Cats' advantage to 49-36. The Toros tried to fight their way back into the game, but were unable to whittle the deficit below double digits.
Miller drained a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up 61-47, only to see Dominguez Hills creep to within 65-55 with 8:04 remaining. Chico State quickly diffused the Toros would-be rally, using layups by Riezebos and Ward plus a 3-ball by Womack to extend its advantage to 15, then with 3:37 to play the 'Cats put the hammer down, as Miller converted a 3-point play, and two free throws apiece by Miller, Womack and Anderson put the wraps on a huge 11-0 run to make the score 89-66 and effectively put the game out of reach. The Wildcats cruised to the 90-70 final and punched their ticket to Saturday's NCAA Championship Tournament semifinal.
Fans can follow the action of Saturday's NCAA Championship Tournament semifinal as Mike Wessels handles the play-by-play of the live Internet broadcast via www.ChicoWildcats.com. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available through the Wildcat Athletic website.
