SEASIDE – After a sub-par performance Friday against Cal State East Bay, the Chico State women's basketball team could have easily went into Saturday's road contest with Cal State Monterey Bay feeling down and defeated. But much to the delight of Head Coach Brian Fogel, it was an energized Wildcat squad that took the floor at The Kelp Bed Saturday in Seaside, and executing with crispness and precision on both ends of the floor, the 'Cats handed the host Otters a lopsided 68-53 defeat to earn a split of the weekend road trip.

 

Saturday's win improves Chico State's overall record to 7-9 and 4-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Monterey Bay slipped to 4-13 on the season and 2-10 in CCAA play.
 
Brooke Bowen scored 14 of her career-high 19 points in the first half and added six rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Annie Ward, after connecting for four 3-pointers Friday, hit five treys Saturday against Monterey Bay to finish with a season-high 19, while Natalie Valenzuela turned in her second straight 10-point performance. Whitney Branham contributed six points and a team-high five assists.
 
Chico State spotted Monterey Bay the first five points of the first half, but the Wildcats quickly answered with a 3-pointer by Bowen and baskets by Bowen, Hannah Womack and Michelle Walker to go up 11-9. After the Otters tied up the contest, the 'Cats' defense went on clamp-down mode, holding Monterey Bay to just one field goal over a 10-and-a-half minute stretch. Chico State's offense, meanwhile, burned the bottom of the net repeatedly – 3-pointers by Ward and Branham highlighted a 21-8 run to give the Wildcats a 32-19 lead. The 'Cats cooled off over the final six minutes of the period, but two jumpers and a pair of free throws by Bowen kept the Otters from making a significant run, and Chico State took a 38-29 lead into halftime.
 
Two Monterey Bay baskets in the first minute of the second half made it a five-point game, but Chico State quickly answered and pushed its lead back to double digits with a 15-2 run: fueled by a Ward 3-pointer, four Natalie Valenzuela free throws, and buckets by Ward, Bowen and Walker, the Wildcats went up comfortably 53-35. The Otters twice pulled to within a dozen, only to see Ward put the game away with two late 3-pointers and a layup, and Chico State cruised to the 68-53 victory.
 
The Wildcats return to Chico next weekend for the start of a four-game homestand at Acker Gym. Friday the 'Cats entertain Cal State Los Angeles, followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.  Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.