With six of seven games at home in the coming weeks and a perfect 3-0 record at Acker Gym heading into Friday night's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup with Humboldt State, the Chico State women's basketball team must've liked its chances of stringing together some victories and bouncing back into the conference race. But 30 percent shooting combined with 21 turnovers proved much too costly, as the Wildcats fell 44-42 to the visiting Lumberjacks.
Friday's loss—Chico State's third straight—dropped the Wildcats to 5-4 on the season and 0-3 in the CCAA. Humboldt State snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The 42 points marked the lowest offensive output by the 'Cats since a 42-point performance vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills back in December, 2014. It was also Chico State's least amount of offense in a game at Acker Gym since scoring just 38 points against Cal State Monterey Bay in January of 2011.
Despite the disappointing shooting stats—15-for-50 from the field, 3-for-19 from the 3-point arc and 9-for-16 from the free throw line—Jo Paine was able to post a double-double Friday, leading the Wildcats with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Sherise Porchia, whose two huge 3-point shots brought the 'Cats back late in the contest, finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Baskets by Paine and Tyler Prange and a 3-pointer by Michelle Townsend spurred a 9-0 run for the 'Cats in the first quarter, giving Chico State an early 14-5 lead. The Wildcats took a seven-point advantage into the second period, but could connect on just two field goals in the 10-minute span, allowing Humboldt State to pull even 22-22 at halftime.
Neither team could generate much offense in the third quarter, as the 'Cats and 'Jacks combined to miss 22 of 27 shots in the period. A layup by Natalie Valenzuela with nine second remaining put Chico State on top 28-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Humboldt State picked the right time to get hot, ripping off a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the final period to go up 38-32. The Lumberjacks had just posted their biggest lead at 40-33 with 3:41 to play before Porchia drained back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Wildcats to within one.
Valenzuela's layup with 1:56 left tied the contest at 41-all, but it would be the last field goal the 'Cats would convert. Chico State still had a chance to win—down 43-41, Porchia made one of two free throws and Prange missed a pair of charity tosses in the final 1:15, allowing the Lumberjacks to cling to its slim lead. Ashlynn Cox made a free throw for Humboldt with five seconds to go, and Prange's desperation 3-point try from midcourt clanged the rim as time ran out, giving the 'Jacks the 44-42 victory.
The Wildcats continue their December home stand Saturday, December 17 when they take on Sonoma State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
