SAN BERNARDINO – The Chico State women's basketball team's roughest road swing of the year more than lived up to its reputation Thursday, as the Wildcats – in Southern California to play Cal State San Bernardino before heading up to Arcata on Saturday – fell behind early and trailed by double digits most of the night, eventually falling to the host Coyotes 71-52 at Coussoulis Arena.
 
The loss – Chico State's fourth in the last five games – dropped the Wildcats to 8-13 on the season and 5-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Bernardino won for the ninth time in its last 11 contests to improve to 16-5 overall and 12-5 in CCAA play.
 
Hannah Womack was the Wildcats' lone player to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points. Annie Ward posted eight points while dishing out five assists, with Ashtyn Anderson contributing eight points and a team-high four rebounds. Chico State did itself no favors Thursday, committing 21 turnovers that led to 29 San Bernardino points.
 
San Bernardino, the top defensive team in the CCAA, sprinted out to an 11-2 lead early in the first half, but Chico State answered with an impressive 13-4 run of its own – Ward knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, Womack hit a trey and Anderson and Whitney Branham each supplied a layup to knot up the contest at 15-all. The Coyotes' Alexcia Mack then took over, nailing four 3-pointers to spearhead a 16-2 run to put San Bernardino up 31-17. The 'Cats could get no closer than nine points the rest of the period, and the Coyotes went into halftime with a 41-30 lead.
 
San Bernardino continued to pour it on in the second half, opening the period with an 11-2 run to extend it advantage to 52-32. A Branham three-point play and a Womack layup highlighted a modest 6-2 run to help the Wildcats creep to within 54-38, only to see the Coyotes rip off 12 unanswered points to make the score 66-38. Tyler Prange connected on a 3-pointer for the 'Cats and Anderson collected three buckets down the stretch, but San Bernardino was easily able to run off the rest of the clock and record the 71-52 victory to sweep the season series with the Wildcats.
 
Chico State takes Friday off before returning to action Saturday in Arcata versus Humboldt State (19-3, 15-2 CCAA). Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.