The Chico State women's basketball team is looking to begin the 2017 calendar year the same way it ushered out 2016—with a convincing win. To accomplish that goal, the Wildcats move from the friendly confines of Acker Gym to cavernous Coussoulis Arena for a road tilt Friday against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rival Cal State San Bernardino. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM, with the broadcast simulcast on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats are also available online.
Chico State enters Friday's contest 8-4 on the season and riding a three-game winning streak to move into a tie for seventh place with Sonoma State in the CCAA standings with a 3-3 conference record. The Wildcats wrapped up December with home victories last Thursday over Cal State Monterey Bay (76-38) and Saturday against San Francisco State (76-48).
The 'Cats, 2-3 on the road this season, own the fifth-most productive offense among the 13 CCAA teams, averaging 65.9 points a game. Chico State boasts the stingiest defense in the conference, allowing opponent just 56.6 points per contest.
Individually, Whitney Branham is the CCAA's leading scorer entering the weekend, averaging 16.7 points per game. She also tops the conference in free throw percentage (89.1 percent) and is third in 3-pointers (29).
Natalie Valenzuela continues to be the CCAA's top shot blocker. Her 23 blocks and 1.9 blocks per game average lead all conference players.
Jo Paine, who has averaged over 17 points in her last six contests, has seen her season scoring average jump to 12.5 points per game. She leads the Wildcats in rebounds, hauling in 6.4 boards a contest.
After winning five of its first six games in 2016–17, Cal State San Bernardino has dropped three in a row and comes into Friday's matchup with the Wildcats 5-4 on the season and in ninth place in the CCAA with a 2-3 conference mark.
The Coyotes are 1-1 at home this season. Their lone loss at Coussoulis Arena was a 66-56 defeat at the hands of Stanislaus State last Thursday.
San Bernardino ranks eighth in the CCAA in both offense (scoring 63 points a game) and defense (65.9 points a contest). The Coyotes score nearly all their points from inside the 3-point arc, as evidenced by just 26 treys on the season.
San Bernardino is led by forward Mya Johnson. The senior is ninth in the CCAA in scoring (13.6 points a game) and fourth in rebounding (7.3 per contest).
Senior center Norissa Sanders is averaging 10.4 points a game for the Coyotes while pulling down 4.3 rebounds a contest. Senior forward Casie Johnson contributes 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a night.
San Bernardino has won the last three meetings with Chico State, including last season's 68-57 decision February 13 at Coussoulis Arena. The Wildcats lead the all-time series with the Coyotes 25-14.
