With 11 conference contests remaining, it's certainly too soon for the Chico State women's basketball team to consider its two games this week as "make or break" affairs. That said, the Wildcats can certainly go a long way towards strengthening their postseason chances with a successful road swing when they travel to Arcata Thursday to take on Humboldt State, followed by a Saturday showdown in Southern California against Cal Poly Pomona. Both games are set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
 
Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play for both games locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM, with the broadcast simulcast on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online.
 
The Wildcats have improved to 10–5 on the season with five wins in their last six outings. More importantly, Chico State is now 5­–4 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, good for seventh place in the conference standings. Most recently, the 'Cats took both ends of a weekend home stand with victories over Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
Chico State will look to duplicate their home success this weekend away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats have won eight of nine at home this season, but are just 2-4 on the road.
 
Chico State enters the week ranked third in the CCAA in offense, averaging 65.7 points a game. Defensively, the Wildcats are second among the 12 conference teams, holding opponents to just 57.6 points a contest. Opposing teams are shooting just 33.4 percent against the 'Cats this season—16th best in the nation.
 
Individually, Whitney Branham is the Wildcats' prime scoring threat. The junior guard is second in the CCAA (averaging 15.1 points per game) and leads the conference in free throw percentage (88.9 percent). Branham's 33 3-pointers on the season ranks fourth among all CCAA players.
 
Humboldt State, which takes on the Wildcats Thursday, is 5-11 overall and tied for ninth in the CCAA with a 4-5 conference record. The Lumberjacks are currently playing their best ball of the season, racking up three straight wins after dropping five of the team's first six conference games. Humboldt won its lone contest last week, taking a double overtime thriller from Cal State San Marcos 60-59.
 
Humboldt State has struggled at home, as evidenced by its 1-5 record at Lumberjack Arena.
 
The 'Jacks are near the bottom of the conference rankings in both offense and defense. Humboldt scores an average of 57.8 points a game while surrendering 68.1 points a contest. The Lumberjacks do like to shoot from behind the arc—the team's 100 3-pointers on the year ranks fourth in the CCAA.
 
Freshman guard Tyra Turner leads the Lumberjack attack, averaging 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. Junior guard Catherine Rees is second in the CCAA with 45 3-point buckets and is averaging 11.0 points a contest.
 
Thursday marks the second meeting of the year between the Wildcats and Lumberjacks, with Humboldt posting a 44-42 victory over Chico State December 9 at Acker Gym. Though Chico State leads the all-time series 67-26, the 'Jacks have won six straight contests versus the 'Cats. The last time Chico State beat Humboldt was January 25, 2014.
 
Cal Poly Pomona, which welcomes in the Wildcats Saturday following its Friday night matchup with Stanislaus State, is 8-7 on the season and is tied for third in the CCAA with a 6-3 conference record. The Broncos enter the week with four wins in their last six outings, including a 68-47 victory last Thursday against Cal State San Marcos.
 
Pomona is 3-1 this season playing on its home court, Kellogg Arena.
 
The Broncos are not a big-scoring team, averaging 58.7 points a game (11th in the CCAA). But Pomona tops the conference on the defensive end, holding opponents to just 56.3 points a night.
 
Junior forward Chelsea Waddy-Blow is the Broncos' top offensive threat, averaging 12.6 points a game while grabbing 6.6 rebounds a contest. Junior forward Priscilla Brooks is the second-leading rebounder in the CCAA (8.5 boards a night) and is averaging 8.3 points a game.
 
Pomona was victorious in both meetings with Chico State last season and has won the last five contests with the 'Cats dating back to 2014. The Broncos lead the all-time series 26-23.