CHICO – It was a long time coming, but for the Chico State women's basketball team, it was no doubt worth the wait. After suffering through over a month's worth of heartbreaking losses, the Wildcats officially said goodbye to their five-game losing streak Friday – and they did it in convincing fashion. The 'Cats led from start to finish to hand the visiting San Francisco State Gators a lopsided 67-40 defeat at Acker Gym.
 
 

The win – Chico State's first since topping Cal State Stanislaus Dec. 13 and the first home victory since the Nov. 15 season opener – moved the Wildcats to 5-8 overall and 2-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). San Francisco State dropped to 0-13 on the season and 0-9 in CCAA play.
 
Hannah Womack led all scorers with 15 points on the night, but it was Ashtyn Anderson who had the 'Cats' faithful buzzing at Acker Gym. In just 12 minutes of action, Anderson notched career bests with 11 points and 12 rebounds, recording her first double-double as a Wildcat. Whitney Branham added seven points and four assists, while Chanelle Di Croce, Michelle Walker and Natalie Valenzuela contributed six points apiece.
 
A pair of Brooke Bowen layups and a bucket by Walker got the Wildcats off to a 6-0 start, then after San Francisco State cut the deficit to 13-10, Chico State took firm control of the opening period by ripping off a 20-3 run, highlighted by a Di Croce 3-pointer and baskets by Womack, Anderson, Valenzuela, Branham and Lauren Johnson. The Gators scored the last two baskets of the half and the 'Cats took a 35-17 lead into intermission.
 
Chico State kept the pedal to the metal in the second half, holding San Francisco State to 24.2 percent shooting while ballooning its advantage to as many as 29 points – Di Croce hit another trey and Branham, Walker, Anderson and Womack all dropped in buckets to fuel a 17-6 run to make it a 54-25 contest. The Gators could get no closer than 20 the rest of the way; Haley Cremen came off the Wildcats' bench to close out the scoring with a layup and two free throws to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 67-40 victory.  
 
The Wildcats wrap up their four-game homestand Saturday against longtime rival Sonoma State (6-7, 4-5 CCAA). Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.