The Chico State women's basketball team has traveled far and wide in January but has met with little success away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym. Things are looking up for the Wildcats, though: with one exception, Brian Fogel's squad will finish out the month with four games on their home floor, where they've won three of four decisions so far this season. This weekend the 'Cats play host to a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rivals, as San Francisco State comes to town Friday followed by Sonoma State on Saturday. Both contests are slated to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Fans unable to attend the games can follow the action locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, with Mike Baca's play-by-play simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online.
All three teams enter the weekend scrambling for wins to work their way back into the CCAA Championship Tournament postseason picture. Chico State is 5-8 on the season but sitting in last place in the CCAA standings with a 1-7 conference record. The Wildcats have dropped three straight and eight of their last nine, and despite twice owning a lead going into the fourth quarter, the 'Cats bowed on the road to both Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona last week.
Even though Chico State has won just once since Nov. 22, the Wildcats are only two games out of the eighth and final CCAA Championship Tournament berth. If the 'Cats can continue to play well at home – eight of their final 12 conference games are at Acker Gym – Chico State could still make it into the postseason.
The Wildcats are eighth among the 13 CCAA teams in both offense and defense, averaging 63.4 points a game while surrendering 63.2 points per contest.
Whitney Branham remains the 'Cats' top scorer, averaging 11.5 points a game, and is tied with Brooke Bowen for the team lead in 3-pointers with 19. Bowen is averaging 10.2 points a game, while McKena Barker – averaging 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds over her last four games – is contributing 9.2 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds a night.
San Francisco State, the Wildcats' Friday night opponent, is 4-9 overall and tied for ninth place in the CCAA with a 2-5 conference record. The Gators have lost seven of their last eight and dropped a pair at home last weekend, falling to UC San Diego 93-34 and Cal State San Bernardino 53-47.
San Francisco State is 1-5 on the road this season.
San Francisco State is last in the conference in scoring, averaging just 51.2 points a game, but rank fourth in the CCAA in defense, allowing 61.4 points per contest.
The Gators are led by junior forward Laura Lawson, who tops the Gators in scoring and rebounding (10.5 points and 9.5 boards a game). Senior guard Tatsian Dashkevich averages 9.8 points a night and leads San Francisco State in 3-pointers (16) and assists (24). Freshman center Kiara Ginwright is the leading shot blocker in the CCAA, rejecting 49 shots in just 13 games.
Ginwright blocked nine shots in the first meeting of the season between the Gators and Wildcats, with San Francisco State claiming a 49-47 victory Dec. 4 at The Swamp. The Gators have won the last two contests with the 'Cats, but Chico State holds a healthy 70-23 advantage in the all-time series.
Sonoma State, which comes to Chico following its Friday night game in Turlock against Stanislaus State, enters the weekend 6-10 on the season and tied for 11th place in the CCAA with a 1-6 conference record. The Seawolves have also been scuffling, dropping eight of their last 10 including home losses last weekend to Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Sonoma State is 2-6 on the road this season.
The Seawolves' offense averages 59.6 points a game (11th in the CCAA), and is ranked seventh in the conference in defense, allowing 63.2 points per contest.
Senior forward Hannah Sourek is the go-to player in the Sonoma State lineup, leading the Seawolves in scoring and rebounding (8.2 points and 5.3 boards a game). Sophomore guard Madison Burroughs averages 8.1 points a contest, while senior point guard Tanner Adams paces Sonoma with 16 3-pointers and 36 assists.
The Seawolves beat Chico State 70-58 back on Dec. 19 at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park, but the Wildcats have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with Sonoma and lead the all-time series 64-19.
