ROHNERT PARK—Two games into the 2017–18 season, a young Chico State women's basketball team has experienced several on-the-job scenarios that, once mastered, will ultimately make the Wildcats successful. One lesson the Wildcats haven't quite figured out yet is how to protect a fourth quarter lead. After letting a 14-point lead get away in Friday's season opener, the 'Cats saw another double-digit advantage vanish in the final 10-minute stanza Saturday against Notre Dame de Namur, as the Argonauts posted a come-from-behind 82-80 victory at the CCAA/PacWest Challenge in Rohnert Park.
Chico State's second straight heartbreak loss drops the Wildcats to 0-2 on the season. Notre Dame de Namur evened its overall record at 1-1.
Whitney Branham broke the 20-point threshold for the second straight day, scoring a team-high 21 points while adding five assists. Branham also reached a personal milestone with 1,000 points over her Chico State career.
Kayla Taylor notched 14 points and seven rebounds, with Madison Wong dished out seven assists and hit three 3-pointers to finish with 14. McKena Barker contributed 13 points to the 'Cats' attack.
Taylor was the lone Wildcat to find the bottom of the bucket in the first five minutes of the opening period, as Chico State missed 11 of its first 12 shots and fell behind early 10-2. The 'Cats finally warmed things up offensively, as a pair of Branham baskets and layups by Katie Mackenzie and Hannah Washington pulled Chico to within 12-10. Notre Dame de Namur responded with a 9-2 run to extend its advantage to nine, but Aqeelah Williams knocked down a trey for the Wildcats to close out the quarter to trim the deficit to 21-15.
The Argonauts went up 27-17 early in the second quarter, only to see Chico State rip off 12 unanswered points—highlighted by a Branham 3-point play, a Wong 3-pointer and layups by Williams, Taylor and Washington—to take a 29-27 lead. Notre Dame de Namur forged back in front, but the 'Cats stayed close thanks to a pair of Branham free throws and a jumper by Mackenzie just before halftime. The Argonauts took a 35-33 lead into intermission.
Notre Dame de Namur still held a 39-37 advantage three minutes into the third period, but the rest of the quarter belonged to Chico State, which used a 19-6 run—fueled by 3-pointers by Branham and Wong—to roar out in front 56-45. Branham and Wong added layups in the final minute of the period, and the Wildcats took a 60-50 lead into the fourth quarter.
A Branham 3-pointer pushed Chico State's lead to 11 early in the fourth, but for the second time in as many games, the Wildcats struggled to maintain the upper hand. Notre Dame de Namur went out in front 66-65 on the strength of an 11-0 run, but the 'Cats rebounded with a Barker 3-point play and a Wong 3-pointer to retake the lead 71-66.
The final few minutes were pure see-saw, as the two teams continuously traded the lead. The Argonauts scored nine of next 11 points to go back in front 75-73, but Shay Stark's 3-pointer with two minutes to play put Chico State up 76-75. Notre Dame de Namur converted a pair of free throws, only to see Wong drop in a layup to put the Wildcats back on top 78-77. With 21 seconds to play, the Argonauts' Jerusha Paine hit two free throws to make it a 79-78 contest, but a Barker layup gave the 'Cats an 80-79 lead with 10 seconds remaining.
That turned out to be more than enough time for Notre Dame de Namur, as Marissa Caballero sank a desperation layup attempt, and following a Chico State turnover, Marinel Alcantara hit a free throw to complete the game's scoring, giving the Argonauts the 82-80 victory.
The Wildcats are back in action next Saturday, kicking off California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play in Arcata against Humboldt State. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3, with the opening tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
