Their unit shorthanded due to an early-game injury, the Chico State women's basketball team's posts still powered the Wildcats to a 66–56 win against Dixie State Saturday night in the finale of the Carl's Jr. Coslet Classic.
 
Natalie Valenzuela finished with a game-high 15 points and seven rebounds. And Kayla Taylor and Jo Paine came off the bench to combine for 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
 
The Wildcats, now 4-1 and winners of four in a row, outscored Dixie State (0-4) 34–20 in the paint. And Chico State's reserves contributed 33 points, led by Taylor's 10.
 

Valenzuela, who was named to the All-Tournament team, dominated the first half, finishing with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting as the Wildcats built a 38-30 lead. Taylor and Paine took over in the second half. Taylor tallied eight points, four rebounds, and block and a steal in 11 minutes of action. Paine provided five points, four board, a block, and a steal.
 
Tournament Most Valuable Player Whitney Brahman railed a 3-poitnter 32 seconds into the game and the Wildcats would led for all but 40 seconds of the game. Branham finished with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. She did not turn the ball over in 31 minutes of action one night after registering a career-high 25 points in the Wildcats' win over Western Oregon. It was the junior's second straight Carl's Jr. Coslet Classic MVP award.
 
A Valenzuela jumper and Tyler Prange's triple stretched the lead to 30–23 midway through the second quarter.
 
The Wildcats led by as many as nine, and went to the half with a 38-30 lead.
 
Michelle Townsend hit a 3-pointer and Branham followed with a fast-break bucket on a break led by Taylor as the lead grew to 13.
 
Paine's three-point play gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the night, 58–42, with 7:17 to go.
 
Along with Paine and Taylor, the Wildcats also got strong performances off the bench from Madison Wong, Prange, and Lauren Lete.
 
Starting point guard Sherise Porchia led the Wildcats with five assists and committed only one turnover in 18 minutes of action.
 
Chico State will be back in action at home Tuesday night at 5:30 against Fresno Pacific. It's the first game of a doubleheader with the men, who will play Stanislaus State at 7:30.
 
The Wildcats are chasing their fifth straight win, which would be their longest winning streak since a seven-gamer during the 2013-14 campaign.
 
Carl's Jr. Coslet Classic All-Tournament Team:
Shelby Snook - Western Oregon
Kylie Kiech - Sonoma State
Kim Savio - Sonoma State
Madison Burroughes - Sonoma State
Natalie Valenzuela - Chico State
Most Valuable Player: Whitney Branham, Chico State