MONMOUTH, Ore. – Even though the Chico State women's basketball team was victorious in its first two games of the 2015-16 season, there were certain areas that needed improvement – not the least of which was long-distance shooting. The Wildcats were just 4-for-27 from 3-point range heading into Saturday's Western Oregon Hampton Inn D2 Shootout, but the treys were falling early and often as the 'Cats hit eight on the afternoon to record a wire-to-wire 65-54 win over host Western Oregon.
Saturday's win improved Chico State's record to 3-0 on the season, with Western Oregon falling to 0-3 overall.
Natalie Valenzuela enjoyed her finest game as a Wildcat, as the sophomore posted career highs of 16 points and eight rebounds. Brooke Bowen knocked down four 3-pointers on the afternoon to finish with 15 points to go along with six boards. Whitney Branham connected for a pair of treys and scored 13 points, while Sherise Porchia dished out a team-high four assists and racked up four steals.
Western Oregon came out sporting a zone defense in the first quarter, but the Wildcats answered by knocking down four 3-pointers – three by Bowen – in the first six-and-a-half minutes while holding the Wolves to just one field goal to open up a 17-4 lead. Western Oregon was able to trim the deficit to nine, but the 'Cats finished the quarter on a 7-2 run (capped by a Michelle Townsend trey) to put Chico State on top 24-9 after one period.
The two teams played evenly in the second quarter. A Townsend 3-pointer extended the Wildcats' lead to 30-15, but Western Oregon held Chico State to just two field goals over the final seven minutes. The Wolves didn't do much better offensively during that stretch, and the 'Cats took a 35-21 lead into halftime.
The Wildcats went over three minutes without a bucket to start the third quarter, with Western Oregon pulling to within 35-27. Whitney Branham ended the drought with a layup, kick-starting a 7-0 run that included a Valenzuela three-point play to widen Chico State's lead to 42-27. The Wolves again cut the 'Cats' advantage to nine, but layups by Valenzuela and Bowen and a pair of Branham free throws in the final two minutes of the period gave Chico State a 48-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Western Oregon opened the final period by creeping to within nine, only to see McKena Barker hit a free throw and Branham drain a 3-pointer to make the score 52-39. The Wolves, taking advantage of early Chico State foul trouble, used free throws to pull to within 62-54, but the Wildcats answered with charity tosses from Valenzuela and Bowen in the final minute of play to put the finishing touches on Chico State's 65-54 victory.
The Wildcats wrap up the Western Oregon D2 Shootout Sunday, taking on the Saints of Saint Martin's. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 noon.
