SAN MARCOS—Turnovers, cold shooting spells and missed opportunities all combined to scuttle the Chico State women's basketball team's efforts Saturday, and despite a combined 42 points from Whitney Branham and Jo Paine, the Wildcats dropped their second straight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road contest in heartbreaking fashion 63-61 to Cal State San Marcos.
 
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State to 5-3 on the season and 0-2 in the CCAA. Cal State San Marcos improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
 
Paine posted a double-double, posting a season-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Branham also netted 21 points while pulling down eight boards for the 'Cats. Turnovers cost Chico State, however—17 Wildcat miscues resulted in 22 San Marcos points.
 
Chico State was a bit sluggish offensively opening the contest, as San Marcos spotted the 'Cats a Paine layup and proceeded to put up eight unanswered points. Layups by Branham and Tyler Prange and a pair of Paine free throws brought the Wildcats back to within three, but the Cougars slowly pushed their advantage to 17-11, and despite late buckets by Paine and Kayla Taylor, San Marcos took a 21-15 lead into the second quarter.
 
The 'Cats saw the deficit grow to nine when San Marcos opened the period with a 3-pointer, but a 14-2 run—eight of the points provided by Branham—helped Chico State roar into the lead at 29-26. Held by the Wildcats to just one field goal in a seven-and-a-half minute stretch, the Cougars' offense came alive late in the quarter, outscoring Chico State 9-3 in the final two minutes to post a 35-32 halftime lead.
 
San Marcos went up 40-34 early in the third quarter, only to see the Wildcats knot up the contest on a Branham 3-pointer and a three-point play by Natalie Valenzuela. The Cougars went back on top with a 9-2 run, but three baskets by Paine kept the 'Cats close. Michelle Townsend closed out the period's scoring with a free throw, and San Marcos entered the fourth quarter with a 53-49 lead.
 
Chico State's defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, holding San Marcos to just one field goal in the first six minutes. The Wildcats' offense could not capitalize, however, committing multiple turnovers while missing 14 of their first 15 shots. The Cougars' lead was sliced to two on a long 3-pointer by Branham with 31 seconds remaining, but a pair of clutch free throws by Ashley Jenkins put San Marcos up 62-58.
 
Prange drained a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to pull the 'Cats to within one, and Chico State fouled Savannah Camp with five seconds remaining. Camp made one of two from the stripe, giving the Wildcats the final possession and a chance to tie or win the game. Madison Wong's 3-pointer was off the mark as time expired, though, and San Marcos escaped with the 63-61 win. 
 
The Wildcats return home next Friday, taking on the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State. Tipoff at Acker Gym is slated for 5:30 p.m.