SAN BERNARDINO – The Chico State women's basketball was dominated on the boards by Cal State San Bernardino the entire night and made just three field goals in both the first and fourth quarters, yet the Wildcats' California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) showdown with the Coyotes surprisingly came down to the final seconds. Trailing all evening with a deficit as large as 15 points at one point, the 'Cats were still able to pull to within one with 13 seconds left to play, only to fall 63-58 Friday at Coussoulis Arena.   
 
Friday's loss snapped Chico State's three-game winning streak and dropped the Wildcats to 8-5 on the season and 3-4 in the CCAA. Cal State San Bernardino put a halt to its three-game losing streak to improve to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
 
Natalie Valenzuela had 10 points and three blocked shots for the Wildcats, with Madison Wong hitting a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 10 points and five rebounds on the night. Tyler Prange and Jo Paine led the 'Cats with six rebounds apiece, while Kayla Taylor dished out a team-high four assists. The Wildcats were outrebounded by the Coyotes 58-33 while shooting less than 35 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc.
 
It was all Cal State San Bernardino the first quarter, outrebounding the Wildcats 21-5 (14 on the offensive end) and holding Chico State to just three field goals. Prange's jumper was the only 'Cats' basket in the first six-and-a-half minutes as the Coyotes raced out to an 18-5 lead. A Michelle Townsend 3-pointer cut the deficit to 10, but San Bernardino built the lead back to a dozen at 23-11 heading into the second quarter.
 
The Wildcats played the Coyotes even in the second 10-minute stanza but still had problems kicking the offense into gear. Buckets by Townsend and Prange to begin the period pulled Chico State to within eight, but a 10-3 run pushed San Bernardino's advantage to 33-18. The 'Cats made up a little ground thanks to Paine, Wong and Sammy DeHart each hitting a pair of three throws, and a layup by Whitney Branham with 17 seconds left in the quarter made it a 37-26 contest at halftime.
 
Chico State finally came live in the third quarter. Branham's 3-pointer, a Sherise Porchia layup and a 3-point play by Valenzuela highlighted a 12-4 Wildcat run to cut San Bernardino's lead to 41-38. The Coyotes quickly went back up by nine, but the 'Cats finished the period strong—a Wong 3-pointer and a Valenzuela layup cut the deficit to 52-46 heading into the final period.
 
Wong connected for another 3-pointer and a layup to start the fourth quarter as the Wildcats once again inched to within three points at 54-51. Chico State's offense went cold at the wrong time, though, going the next seven minutes without a field goal. The 'Cats defense came to the rescue, holding San Bernardino to just one bucket during that stretch, and when McKena Barker delivered a layup with 41 seconds left, Chico State trailed by only two points at 59-57.
 
The Wildcats came up with another defensive stop, and with Kayla Taylor drawing a foul, Chico State had an opportunity to tie the contest with 13 seconds to play. Taylor made one of two free throws, and after the 'Cats were forced to foul, the Coyotes' Ashley Carson sank a pair of four shots to put San Bernardino up 61-58. Chico State could not convert a game-tying 3-pointer with four seconds remaining, and two more Carson free throws sealed the deal as the Coyotes held off the Wildcats 63-58.  
 
The Wildcats return to action next weekend, hosting Cal State LA Friday, January 13 and Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday the 14th at Acker Gym. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m.