LOS ANGELES – A season that started optimistically with four straight wins ended in disappointing fashion Saturday for the Chico State women's basketball team, as the Wildcats concluded the 2015-16 campaign suffering its sixth straight defeat. Cal State L.A. went ahead early and never relinquished the lead to down the 'Cats 83-61 at The Eagles' Nest in Los Angeles. 
 
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State's final regular season record to 10-16 and 5-15 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State L.A., which clinched the No. 8 seed in next week's CCAA Championship Tournament, won its second straight to improve to 10-16 overall and 8-12 in conference play.
 
Whitney Branham led all scorers with 20 points. The sophomore guard knocked down four 3-pointers, giving her 41 treys for the season. Natalie Valenzuela contributed 14 points and a team-high five rebounds for the Wildcats, while Sherise Porchia scored nine points and dished out three assists. Chico State shot 35 percent (21-for-60) from the field and 33 percent (5-for-15) from beyond the 3-point arc.
 
The opening 10 minutes featured plenty of scoring as the two teams combined to score 42 points. Porchia broke the seal with an early 3-pointer, but Cal State L.A. responded with seven straight points to take the lead. The Golden Eagles pushed their advantage to 20-13 before the Wildcats scored seven of the period's final nine points – Branham connected on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, while Michelle Townsend sank a pair of charity tosses – to cut Cal State L.A.'s lead to 22-20 heading into the second quarter.
 
The Golden Eagles drained four 3-pointers to begin the period and used a 16-2 run to stretch their lead to 38-22. Cal State L.A. was still up 16 when the Wildcats mounted a 9-2 run – highlighted by Branham's third 3-pointer of the game – to pull to within 44-35 at halftime.
 
Cal State L.A. came out hitting on all cylinders in the third quarter, scoring the first 11 points to balloon its lead to 55-35. A pair of Valenzuela jumpers and another Branham 3-pointer helped Chico State whittle the deficit to 59-45, but the 'Cats could only score two more points before the end of the period and trailed 65-47 going into the fourth quarter.
 
Porchia and Sammy DeHart opened the final period with back-to-back layups, but Cal State L.A. answered with a 7-0 run to go up 72-51. Chico State produced one last offensive burst – baskets by Valenzuela, Branham, Porchia and Townsend fueled a 10-4 run that made the score 76-61 with 1:53 to play. With precious little time remaining, the Golden Eagles were able to ice the contest by scoring the final seven points to win going away 83-61.
 
Chico State finished the 2015-16 campaign losing 16 of its last 22 games to miss out on postseason play for the second straight year. Though the Wildcats lose just one senior, Head Coach Brian Fogel will waste no time hitting the recruiting trail to bring in some fresh talent to get the 'Cats ready to rebound in 2016-17.