BELMONT – Head Coach Brian Fogel made sure the Chico State women's basketball certainly didn't dwell over Friday's season-opening loss at the hands of Dominican University. The Wildcats wasted no time in turning the page, returning to Walter Gleason Gymnasium Saturday afternoon and promptly chalked up their first win of the 2016–17 campaign, beating host Notre Dame de Namur 59-44 in the finale of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Pacific West Challenge.
 
Chico State wraps up the first weekend of the regular season with a 1-1 record, while Notre Dame de Namur fell to 0-2 overall. The Wildcats have now beaten the Argonauts 19 straight times dating back to 1983.
 
Natalie Valenzuela poured in a career-high 19 points to lead the Wildcats to go along with five rebounds and four blocked shots. Whitney Branham connected on a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 12 points, while Tyler Prange contributed nine points and a career-best eight rebounds.
 
Notre Dame de Namur was ice cold in the first quarter, missing 12 of its first 13 shots, and Chico State took full advantage. The Wildcats, using 3-pointers by Prange and Michelle Townsend and buckets from Branham and Valenzuela, posted a 10-1 run to grab an early 12-4 lead. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Prange ended the period with the 'Cats up 17-9.
 
It was the Wildcats' turn to go cold in the second quarter. A Valenzuela layup early in the period put Chico State up by 10, but the 'Cats wouldn't score again for over six minutes as Notre Dame de Namur used an 8-0 run to pull to within 19-17. Branham finally tickled the twine with a 3-pointer and two late Sherise Porchia free throws gave the Wildcats a 24-17 halftime lead.
 
Chico State extended its advantage in the third quarter—a Branham 3-pointer and baskets by Valenzuela and Kayla Taylor put the Wildcats up 38-25. The Argonauts scored six unanswered points to trim the deficit to seven, but the 'Cats responded with treys by Prange and Lauren Lete at the end of the period to take a 44-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Notre Dame de Namur never seriously challenged in the final 10-minute stanza. The Argonauts pulled as close as 50-39 with 4:32 to play, but Valenzuela took care of all the Wildcat offense the rest of the way, dropping in a pair of layups and sinking five free throws down the stretch to lead Chico State to the 59-44 victory.
 
Chico State is back in action Wednesday, traveling to Oakland to take on Holy Names in a non-conference contest. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. The Wildcats return home next weekend to host the 44th annual Coslet Classic, going head-to-head with Western Oregon Friday and Dixie State on Saturday.