FRESNO – The Chico State women's basketball team got off to a sizzling start Tuesday against Fresno Pacific, but as was the case last Saturday against Cal State East Bay, the Wildcats could not sustain their impressive first quarter play over the full 40 minutes of the contest. The host Sunbirds caught the 'Cats at halftime, led through most of the second half and scored the winning layup with less than 30 remaining to nip Chico State 66-64 at the Fresno Pacific Special Events Center.
 
Tuesday's loss – Chico State's third in a row – dropped the Wildcats to 4-3 on the season, while Fresno Pacific snapped a three-game skid to improve to 2-5 overall.
 
Whitney Branham led Chico State with 15 points – 12 coming in the second half – while McKena Barker contributed a career-best 12 points and team-high seven rebounds. Natalie Valenzuela and Tyler Prange added eight and seven points, respectively, with Sherise Porchia doling out seven assists on the night. Chico State shot just 38.6 percent (22-for-57) in the losing effort.
 
Chico State bolted out to a 19-6 lead in the first quarter, fueled by four Barker buckets and 3-pointers by Branham, Michelle Townsend and Irie Stokes. The Wildcats extended their advantage to 14 and led 23-13 at the end of the period.
 
Prange buried a 3-pointer early in the second quarter, and with Prange, Barker and Kayla Taylor delivering layups, the 'Cats went up 32-21. Fresno Pacific used a flurry of 3-pointers to mount a 13-2 run to close out the period and catch Chico State 34-34 at halftime.
 
Fresno Pacific scored seven of the first nine points in the third quarter to go out in front 43-36, but Chico State battled back to knot up the contest courtesy of a Branham 3-pointer and four straight free throws by Branham and Barker. A Prange layup briefly put the 'Cats on top 45-44, but the Sunbirds put together a 9-3 run to retake the lead and go up by five. Branham closed out the period with a jumper that made the score 53-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Wildcats began the final 10-minute stanza with a Valenzuela free throw and Haley Cremen layup to tie the game at 53-all, but Fresno Pacific responded with seven unanswered points to go back up by 60-53. A four-point play by Brooke Bowen brought Chico State back to within three, then a Branham free throw and layups by Branham, Taylor and Porchia pulled the Wildcats even at 64-64 with 1:50 remaining.
 
With the game winding down inside of a minute, the 'Cats had a chance to take the lead but turned the ball over with 47 seconds left. Fresno Pacific took advantage of the miscue, as Taylor Caspers posted what would be the game-winning layup with 27 seconds to go. Chico State's final possession came up empty, enabling the Sunbirds to hang on for the 66-64 victory.
 
The Wildcats return to conference play Saturday, hosting the newest member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Cal State San Marcos. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.