The Chico State women's basketball team came up just short of winning its fourth straight game Friday, but the Wildcats – and Whitney Branham in particular – gave Cal State East Bay all it could handle. Branham poured in a career-high 24 points and led the charge during a furious rally late in the fourth quarter, but the visiting Pioneers were able to hold on and escape with a 55-53 victory at Acker Gym.
 
Friday's loss dropped Chico State to 9-10 overall, but the Wildcats didn't lose ground in the race for one of the eight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament berths, holding on to ninth place with a 4-9 conference record. Cal State East Bay improved to 18-4 on the season and 12-2 in CCAA play.
 
Branham was 8-for-12 from the field and knocked down three 3-pointers en route to her career-high 24 point night. Natalie Valenzuela was the only other Wildcat to score in double figures, netting 11. McKena Barker and Sammy DeHart led Chico State in rebounds with seven apiece, while Sherise Porchia dished out a team-high four assists.
 
The night started promisingly as Chico State – fueled by buckets from Valenzuela, Barker and Porchia – bolted out to an 8-2 lead in the first quarter. The Wildcats were still up six before being outscored by East Bay 13-0 to finish the period, giving the Pioneers an 18-11 lead.
 
The Chico State offense could not get untracked in the second quarter, converting just two of 11 field goal attempts, and East Bay took full advantage, increasing its advantage to 28-14. Tyler Prange came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer, but the Pioneers responded with five unanswered points to end the period and went into halftime with a big 33-17 lead.
 
The Wildcats came out blazing in the third quarter – baskets by Branham and Brooke Bowen highlighted an 8-0 run to bring Chico State to within 33-25. Despite buckets from Valenzuela, Barker, Branham and DeHart, East Bay slowly pushed its lead back to 14. DeHart finished the period with a jumper and free throw, and the 'Cats headed into the final 10-minute stanza down 46-35.
 
Branham literally put the Wildcats on her shoulders in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points in the period on 5-of-6 shooting. With the score 51-35, Branham tallied eight points in a 10-0 run to make it a six-point game with 2:05 remaining. East Bay led 53-45 with 1:36 left, but a jumper by Irie Stokes followed by a Branham 3-point bomb and a 3-point play made the score 54-53 with 20 seconds to go. Chico State quickly fouled, and the Pioneers converted just one of two free throws, giving the Wildcats the ball back with 14 seconds and a chance to tie or win in regulation. The 'Cats were unable to get a shot off, though, as the East Bay defense forced a turnover to end Chico State's comeback bid. The Pioneers ran out the final two seconds on the clock to post the 55-53 victory and sweep the season series.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, taking on Cal State Monterey Bay (8-13, 4-10 CCAA) at Acker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled at 5:30 p.m.