The Chico State women's basketball team has won three in a row and is playing its best ball since opening the 2015-16 season with four straight victories. The successful surge has put the Wildcats back into the postseason picture, but to remain in the mix Head Coach Brian Fogel's squad needs to kick off the month of February the same way it ended January. The 'Cats are faced with two challenging matchups this weekend, as they welcome Cal State East Bay to Acker Gym Friday and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. Both games are set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
 
Fans unable to attend the game in person can listen to Mike Baca and Mike Wessel's play-by-play locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, with the broadcast simulcast via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online.
 
Chico State has won four of its last five contests to even its season record at 9-9. The Wildcats, hoping to secure one of the eight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berths, are currently in ninth place in the bunched-up conference standings with a 4-8 mark. With just two games separating the seventh and 13th place teams, the Wildcats play five of their final eight games at home, where they are an impressive 6-2 so far this season.
 
The 'Cats came up big in their lone game last week, downing Stanislaus State 62-52 Saturday at Acker Gym to snap the Warriors' seven-game winning streak.
 
Chico State enters the week seventh among the 13 CCAA teams in offense, averaging 64.1 points a game. Defensively, the Wildcats rank fourth, allowing opponents to score 60.8 points a contest. The 'Cats have been especially stingy over the last five games, giving up just 54.6 points a contest.
 
Individually, Whitney Branham leads the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 11.4 points a game while sinking a team-high 27 3-pointers. Brooke Bowen (9.7 points a game) has knocked down 24 treys, and McKena Barker has contributed 9.1 points a night. Barker, averaging 10 rebounds over her last seven games, is ranked fifth in the CCAA with a season average of 7.6 boards a contest.
 
Sherise Porchia (5.6 points a game) is second in the conference in assists, averaging 4.4 dishes a night, with Natalie Valenzuela ranking third in the CCAA in blocked shots, averaging 1.5 rejections a game.
 
Cal State East Bay has enjoyed a monster season and has all but locked up a bid to the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Pioneers enter the week 17-4 overall and occupying third place in the CCAA with an 11-2 conference record. East Bay, which rolled to double-digit victories last week over Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State San Marcos, has won four straight and 15 of its last 17.
 
The Pioneers are 7-2 on the road this season.
 
East Bay is third in the CCAA on offense, averaging 65.7 points a game. The Pioneers lead the conference in team defense, giving up just 52.1 points a contest.
 
East Bay is led by senior forward Tori Breshers, who ranks in the CCAA top 10 in scoring (14.8 points a game), rebounds (6.5 a contest) and blocked shots (27). Senior guard Shannon Bland is also among the conference leaders, averaging 13.5 points and 3.5 assists a game. The Pioneers' long-distance threat is senior guard Laci Effenberger, who leads the CCAA with 61 3-pointers on the season.
 
East Bay won the first meeting of the season, besting the Wildcats 69-45 Dec. 5 in Hayward. The Pioneers have won the last five head-to-head matchups, but Chico State leads the all-time series with East Bay 53-17.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay, which comes to Chico following its Friday matchup in Turlock against Stanislaus State, is 8-12 on the season but is also fighting for a postseason berth. The Otters are in 10th place in the CCAA with a 4-9 conference mark, just a half-game behind Chico State. Monterey Bay has dropped seven of its last nine contests, but snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday with a 63-58 win over Cal State San Marcos.
 
On the road this season, the Otters are 4-7 away from their home floor, The Kelp Bed in Seaside.
 
Monterey Bay is not a high-scoring team, averaging just 58.4 points a game on offense. Defensively, the Otters surrender an average of 62.7 points a night.
 
Junior forward McKenna Hill is Monterey Bay's top performer, averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Junior guard Victoria Dorn in averaging 9.0 points a contest while converting a team-high 38 3-pointers.
 
Saturday will be the only time during the regular season the Wildcats and Otters will square off on the hardwood. Chico State has won the last five meetings between the two teams and leads the all-time series 18-6.