If there is one thing that is preventing the Chico State women's basketball team from inclusion into the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) elite, it's letting fourth quarter leads get away. No less than four times this season the Wildcats have been on top entering the final 10-minute stanza, only to come away without a win. The same scenario reared its ugly head Saturday at Acker Gym – the 'Cats, who at one point owned a 24-point first half advantage, still led by eight heading into the fourth quarter, only to be outscored 21-8 by Sonoma State and eventually falling to the visiting Seawolves 61-56.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 6-9 overall and back into the basement of the CCAA with a 2-8 conference record. With Saturday's win, Sonoma State completed a sweep of its season series with Chico State to improve to 7-11 overall and 2-7 in CCAA play.
The 'Cats played a near-flawless first half, connecting on over 46 percent of its shots while holding the Seawolves to just four field goals and 13.3 percent shooting. It was a completely different story in the second half, as Sonoma State shot over 53 percent from the field and outscored the Wildcats 47-20 over the third and fourth quarters to steal the win.
Sherise Porchia posted a double-double for Chico State in the losing effort, scoring a team-high 11 points while also contributing 10 assists and four steals. Whitney Branham and Natalie Valenzuela each scored 10 points, with Valenzuela also hauling in nine rebounds and blocking a pair of shots. McKena Barker just missed notching her fourth straight double-digit rebounding game, finishing with nine boards on the night.
Chico State jumped out to a big lead in the opening quarter. Up 7-6 early, the Wildcats held Sonoma State to just one field goal and used a 14-2 run to close out the period. A Michelle Townsend 3-pointer and buckets by Branham, Valenzuela and Irie Stokes provided the offensive fuel as the Wildcats built a 21-8 lead.
Things got even better for the 'Cats in the second quarter, as Chico State scored seven of the first nine points to go up 28-10. Later in the period the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to push the advantage to 24, and went into the locker room at halftime with a gaudy 36-14 lead.
Sonoma State's Tanner Adams single-handedly got the Seawolves back into the game, hitting three straight 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the third quarter to knock the Wildcats' lead down to 13. Chico State utilized a Branham trey and two Kayla Taylor baskets to stretch the margin to 48-31, but the 'Cats' offense soon came to a screeching halt, converting only three field goals over the final 13 minutes of the contest. Sonoma State closed out the third period on a 9-0 run, but Chico State still held a 48-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Two more 3-pointers by Adams pulled the Seawolves even at 52-all with 6:31 to play, but a Taylor layup quickly put Chico State back on top. The Wildcats proceeded to miss their next seven field goal attempts, allowing Sonoma State to score six unanswered points and roar out in front 58-54 with 39 seconds remaining. Valenzuela came through with a layup to make it a two-point game, but the Seawolves doused any hope of a wild 'Cats comeback, connecting on three late free throws to hold on and hand Chico State an excruciating 61-56 defeat.
The Wildcats head back on the road Thursday, traveling to Oceanside to take on Cal State San Marcos. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. Chico State returns to Acker Gym next Saturday for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest against Simpson University.
