There's still a chance. Despite a rough February and a current four-game losing streak, the Chico State women's basketball team is still in the postseason picture as the Wildcats battle for the eighth and final berth in next month's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. To snag that postseason slot, the Wildcats know full well what they have to do heading into the final two games of the regular season – win and keep their collective fingers crossed that scenarios that need to happen will indeed occur. The 'Cats will host Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday night at Acker Gym, then travel to Southern California to take on Cal State L.A. Saturday at The Eagles' Nest. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Fans can follow the action of both Chico State games locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, with Mike Baca's play-by-play simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video will also be available for Thursday's game vs. Dominguez Hills, with Live Stats only for Saturday's Cal State L.A. contest.
Chico State is 10-14 on the season and sitting in 10th place in the CCAA with a 5-13 conference record. Even though they are a game behind both San Francisco State and Cal State L.A. with two to play, the Wildcats can grab the final CCAA Championship Tournament slot (pending official confirmation by the conference office at the end of the regular season) with:
-- Two wins
and a San Francisco State loss to UC San Diego on Friday night
-- A win over Cal State L.A.
and two San Francisco State losses
and a Cal State L.A. loss to Stanislaus State on Thursday.
The Wildcats will certainly have their hands full against Cal State Dominguez Hills, which enters Thursday's contest sporting an 18-8 overall record and battling Cal State East Bay and UC San Diego for the CCAA regular season title. The Toros enter the week tied for second with the Tritons with a 16-2 conference record and just a half-game back of the first place Pioneers (17-2).
Dominguez Hills split its two games last week, losing to Cal State East Bay 59-57 before handing Cal State Monterey Bay a 65-56 defeat. The Toros own the second-best scoring offense in the CCAA, averaging 72.4 points a game.
Dominguez Hills beat the 'Cats earlier in the season, posting an 83-74 victory Jan. 2 at the Torodome in Carson. The Toros have won four of the last five meetings with Chico State, but Dominguez Hills has had its share of problems away from home, dropping eight of 14 on the road in 2015-16.
Chico State is 7-5 at home this season.
Cal State L.A. (8-16 overall, 6-12 CCAA) leaped back into the postseason with a four-game winning streak in late January-early February, but has since lost its last three contests, including two games last week to Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.
The Golden Eagles boast the No. 3 offense in the conference, averaging 65.9 points a game, but defensively Cal State L.A. is dead last in the conference, surrendering over 70 points a contest.
The Golden Eagles are 5-6 at home this season, while Chico State has lost nine of 12 on the road.
The Wildcats beat Cal State L.A. back on Jan. 31, downing the Golden Eagles 83-74 at Acker Gym. Cal State L.A. has won five of the last seven meeting between the two teams.
There's still a chance. If the Chico State women's basketball team can take care of business, there may be more basketball to play in 2015-16.
