Box Score LA JOLLA—A huge fourth quarter comeback could not undo an ice-cold third period for the Chico State women's basketball team, as the Wildcats came up short in their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference opener Thursday against UC San Diego. Despite pulling to within a point twice in the final four minutes, the 'Cats bowed to the host Tritons 58-55 at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.
Thursday's loss snapped Chico State's five-game winning streak and dropped the Wildcats to 5-2 on the season and 0-1 in the CCAA. UC San Diego improved to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Whitney Branham led the Wildcats, posting a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Jo Paine collected a season-high 16 points to go along with five boards.
UC San Diego jumped out a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Branham and Natalie Valenzuela got Chico State on the board with back-to-back buckets, then used a three-point play by Paine to go out in front 9-8. The Tritons regained the lead, but with the score 14-11 Paine produced a jumper and two free throws to give the Wildcats a 15-14 advantage. A UC San Diego bucket closed out the period, giving the Tritons a 16-15 lead.
A 3-pointer by Michelle Townsend to begin the second quarter briefly put Chico State in front, but five unanswered points by the Tritons put UC San Diego on top 21-18. The 'Cats stayed closed thanks to a Branham 3-pointer and a Kayla Taylor jumper, but the Tritons were able to extend their lead to 33-26 before Branham drained another trey just before the end of the period, and UC San Diego had to be content with a 33-29 halftime lead.
Chico State's offense was virtually non-existent in the third quarter. The Wildcats went nearly three minutes without scoring before Paine hit a pair of free throws, and it wasn't until halfway through the period that Taylor knocked in a jumper for Chico State's first field goal. Despite a 3-pointer by Tyler Prange, UC San Diego slowly stretched its lead and took a 49-38 advantage into the fourth quarter.
After a 3-pointer early in the final period pushed the Tritons' lead to 14, the Wildcats climbed back into the contest by holding UC San Diego scoreless for six minutes while going on a 13-0 run—Branham and Paine combining for four field goals and five free throws—to pull to within 52-51 with 3:46 to play. The Tritons never relinquished the lead, however, scoring a pair of baskets and two free throws in the final minutes to withstand the Chico State charge and hang on for the 58-55 victory.
The Wildcats continue their two-game Southern California road swing Saturday, taking on Cal State San Marcos. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
