You can add time to the three remaining conference opponents that potentially stand in the way of the Chico State women's basketball team earning a spot in next month's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. The Wildcats need a strong finish over the final four games of the regular season to grab one of the eight available bids, but they did themselves no favors Friday night, falling to visiting Cal Poly Pomona 66-49 in front of a packed house at Acker Gym and a national ESPN audience.
 
Friday's loss – Chico State's third straight – dropped the 'Cats to 10-13 on the season and 5-12 in CCAA play. The Wildcats remain in 10th place in the conference standings, and though they're only one game out of the eighth and final conference tournament berth, they have just three games to leapfrog two teams in order to reach postseason play.
 
Cal Poly Pomona improved to 10-15 overall and 8-10 in conference play with Friday's win, as the Broncos swept the season series with the Wildcats.
 
McKena Barker was the lone Wildcat to score in double figures, posting 16 points along with a team-high eight rebounds. Sammy DeHart matched her career high with eight points while pulling down five boards, with Whitney Branham adding seven points and seven rebounds. Chico State shot just 25.9 percent from the field, and made only two of 19 (a woeful 10.5 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc.
 
Cal Poly Pomona got the upper hand early, scratching out a 9-5 lead in the first quarter before a DeHart jumper and two free throws apiece by Barker and Brooke Bowen tied things up at 11-all. Cal Poly's Mary Williams converted a layup in the period's final minute, giving the Broncos a 13-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Chico State defense shined in the second period, holding Pomona to just eight points on 18.8 percent shooting. The Wildcats briefly took a 20-19 lead on a DeHart layup, but the two teams went into the locker room at halftime knotted up at 21-apiece.
 
It was a different story in the third quarter as the Broncos hit seven of their 13 field goal attempts while Chico State was just 2-for-9 from the field. Alyssa Benton's three 3-pointers helped Pomona take command, outscoring the 'Cats 15-7 over the final five minutes of the period to forge a healthy 43-34 lead.
 
Chico State continued to struggle offensively in the fourth quarter, as the Broncos quickly built a double-digit advantage. Buckets by Barker and DeHart brought the Wildcats back to within nine at 50-41, and with six minutes remaining, there was still plenty of time to mount a rally. But the 'Cats could only connect on two more field goals the rest of the way, allowing the Broncos to balloon their lead to 18 before eventually settling for the 66-49 victory.  
 
The Wildcats are back in action tomorrow, hosting Humboldt State (12-13, 9-9 CCAA) in another big CCAA matchup for both teams. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. Saturday will also be Senior Night at Acker Gym, with the Wildcats' lone senior Brooke Bowen receiving a special spotlight prior to tipoff.