December may be winding down, but as far as the Chico State women's basketball team is concerned, there's a little unfinished business to tend to before breaking out the 2017 calendars. The Wildcats are back in action following an 11-day layoff, taking on Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and San Francisco State Saturday in a special New Years Eve matinee at 1:30 p.m. in a pair of important California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchups at Acker Gym.
 
Fans unable to attend the games in person can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available.
 
Chico State enters Thursday's contest 6-4 on the season and in a tie for ninth place in the CCAA standings with a 1-3 conference record. The Wildcats went into the holiday break on a positive note December 17, snapping a three-game losing streak by erasing an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Sonoma State 71-65.
 
The 'Cats' offense currently ranks sixth in the 13-team CCAA, averaging 63.9 points a game. The Chico State defense is second in the conference, allowing opponents just 59.3 points a contest. The Wildcats are also No. 2 in the CCAA in free throw shooting, averaging 76 percent from the charity stripe.
 
Individually, Whitney Branham is second in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game, while leading the conference in free throw percentage (90.7 percent). Branham is also fifth in 3-pointers (23), and is just two shy of 100 treys in her Chico State career.
 
Jo Paine has averaged 17.5 points over her last four games to boost her season average to 11.4 points a night. She leads the Wildcats in rebounds and ranks sixth in the CCAA, pulling down 6.9 boards a contest.
 
Natalie Valenzuela is averaging 10.6 points a game and continues to lead the CCAA in blocked shots (22) and blocks per game (2.2).
 
Cal State Monterey Bay comes into the week with a 3-8 overall record and in last place in the CCAA with an 0-4 conference mark. The Otters are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, but have lost their last two contests by a combined three points. In its last game on December 17, Monterey Bay mounted a furious rally after trailing by seven points with just 40 seconds to play, but came up short in a 72-70 loss to Academy of Art.
 
The Otters are eighth in the CCAA in offense, averaging 63.2 points a game. Monterey Bay is stingy on defense, though, ranking fourth in the conference by surrendering just 63.6 points per contest.
 
The Otters love shooting from long distance. Monterey Bay tops the CCAA in 3-point baskets (83) and leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (35.8 percent).
 
Victoria Dorn is the Otters' top offensive weapon. The senior guard is averaging 14.8 points a game (sixth in the CCAA) and leads the conference in 3-pointers (45) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.3 percent). Senior forward McKenna Hill is averaging 10.2 points a contest and is third in the CCAA in rebounding, grabbing 7.8 boards a night.
 
Chico State beat Monterey Bay 60-36 in last season's lone meeting between the two teams. The Wildcats have won the last five matchups with the Otters and lead the all-time series 19-6.
 
San Francisco State is 2-8 so far in 2016-17 and is tied for 11th place in the CCAA with an 0-3 conference record. Saturday's game is the first in over three weeks for the Gators, who have dropped four straight decisions heading into Saturday's matchup with the Wildcats. San Francisco State's most recent game was a 66-46 loss to Sonoma State back on December 9.
 
The Gators' offense is dead last in the CCAA, averaging only 55.8 points a game, but like Monterey Bay, San Francisco State features a solid defense. The Gators have allowing opponents to score an average of just 63.6 points a night.
 
San Francisco State is led by sophomore guard Lauryn Catching, averaging 10.3 points a game, with senior forward/center Donae Moguel contributing 10.1 points and a team-high six rebounds a contest. Junior guard Jasmine Black (6.4 points per game) is the Gators' top 3-point shooter with 15 treys on the season.
 
Chico State and San Francisco State split the 2015-16 season series, with the Wildcats scoring a 69-39 victory over the Gators January 15 at Acker Gym. The 'Cats led the all-time series 71-23.