OCEANSIDE – The Chico State women's basketball team started out the week on a successful note Thursday, doing something it hadn't done in two months: winning on the road. The Wildcats, losers of nine of their last 11, came out with confidence and utilized a balanced scoring attack while holding Cal State San Marcos to just one 3-pointer through the first 39 minutes of play to down the host Cougars 65-59 at MiraCosta College in Oceanside.
Thursday's win moved Chico State to 7-9 on the season and 3-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Marcos fell to 5-9 overall and 3-6 in CCAA play. It was the Wildcats' first road victory since beating Saint Martin's 76-59 way back on Nov. 22.
McKena Barker posted her fourth double-double of the season, leading the Wildcats with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Natalie Valenzuela scored 10 points, with Haley Cremen contributing a career-high nine points and six rebounds. Michelle Townsend hit two 3-pointers and finished with eight points, while Brooke Bowen and Sherise Porchia registered seven points apiece.
Chico State jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening period, only to see San Marcos put together a 10-2 run to go up by two. The Wildcats went back in front courtesy of an Irie Stokes jumper and two free throws by Bowen, but the Cougars scored the next three points to take a 13-12 lead. Thanks to a 3-pointer by Bowen, the 'Cats went into the second quarter with a 15-13 advantage.
A 3-pointer by Townsend and buckets by Bowen, Cremen and Barker to start the second period pushed Chico State's lead to 24-18, and when San Marcos closed to within two, the Wildcats – on the strength of baskets by Cremen, Whitney Branham and Sammy DeHart – extended their advantage to 30-22, and went into the locker room at halftime up 32-26.
San Marcos was ice cold on offense in the third quarter, scoring just eight points. That gave Chico State a great chance to pad its lead, and the Wildcats did just that – Barker and Porchia combined to deliver the first five points of the period, then with the score 37-30, Townsend knocked down a 3-pointer to spur a 7-2 run to put the 'Cats up by a dozen. The quarter ended with Chico State up 46-34.
The Cougars opened the final period on a 10-3 run to pull to within 49-44. But rather than once again wilting in the fourth quarter, Chico State scored eight of the next 10 points – Valenzuela leading the way with two layups and a pair of free throws – to stretch the Wildcats' lead to 57-46 with 1:43 remaining. San Marcos made one last run, scoring eight straight to creep to within 57-54 with 30 seconds to go. The 'Cats weren't about to let the game get away, though, as Branham, Porchia and Barker combined to hit eight straight free throws down the stretch to ice the 65-59 victory.
The Wildcats take a brief break from conference play Saturday, hosting Simpson University in a non-conference contest at Acker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
