ARCATA—The number of key injuries that have plagued the Chico State basketball team have certainly been enough to undermine the entire season. But the Wildcats, knowing they have just eight healthy players to utilize for the rest of the 2016-17 campaign, have instead unified to such a degree that Head Coach Brian Fogel's squad is finding strength in lesser numbers. Delivering one of their best games of the season, the 'Cats scored a big road "W" Thursday with a 57-45 victory over Humboldt State at Lumberjack Arena.
 
Thursday's win—Chico State's third straight and sixth in the last seven games—moves the Wildcats to 11-5 on the season and 6-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State saw its three-game winning streak come to an end, falling to 5-12 overall and 4-6 in CCAA play.
 
Whitney Branham hit four four 3-pointers on the night to lead the 'Cats with 20 points—12 coming in the pivotal fourth quarter. Kayla Taylor came through with a career-high 15 points to go along with six rebounds, while Sherise Porchia added eight points and six boards. Sammy DeHart chipped in with six points and six rebounds as Chico State shot 46.7 percent from the field and outrebounded the Lumberjacks 32-27.
 
It took nearly four minutes for either team to get on the scoreboard. A Branham 3-pointer and Taylor layup gave Chico State a 5-2 lead, but an 8-1 Humboldt run put the Lumberjacks in front 10-6. The Wildcats knotted up the contest courtesy of a Taylor layup and a DeHart jumper, and the two teams went into the second quarter tied at 10-all.
 
The 'Cats completed their 13-2 run by scoring nine of the first 11 points in the second period—baskets by Taylor and Madison Wong and another Branham 3-pointer gave Chico State a 19-12 advantage. Humboldt responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead, but back-to-back layups by Taylor and Branham put Chico State up 23-21. The Lumberjacks sank a shot just before the buzzer, tying the game at 23-apiece heading into intermission.
 
The Wildcats spotted Humboldt the first four points of the third quarter, then bookended a pair of Wong free throws with layups by Taylor and DeHart to take a 29-27 lead. The Lumberjacks quickly pulled even, but five straight free throws—one by Taylor and two each by DeHart and Michelle Townsend—put the 'Cats back on top 34-29. Sherise Taylor added a layup and a three-point play, giving Chico State a 39-33 lead heading into the final 10-minute stanza.
 
Humboldt knocked down a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, but after Taylor answered with a layup, the Wildcats looked to their leading scorer to blow the game open. Branham delivered nine points in a 13-4 Chico State run to put the 'Cats up by a dozen, and the Lumberjacks could not recover. Branham put an exclamation point on the proceedings by knocking down her fourth 3-pointer of the contest with 55 seconds left, and the Wildcats rolled to the 57-45 victory.
 
The Wildcats take Friday off before resuming their brief road trip Saturday, traveling to Southern California to take on Cal Poly Pomona. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.