The 2017–18 season has not given the Chico State women's basketball team much time to gear up for all-important conference play. After just two contests, the Wildcats make the big leap into California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action this Saturday, as the Wildcats travel to Arcata to take on Humboldt State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
There is an extra layer of excitement attached to the 'Cats' CCAA opener. The game will be video streamed on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Mike Baca will also be courtside providing the play-by-play locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY (joined in progress following Butte College football) and through the Wildcat Athletics website (in its entirety). Live Stats will also be available online.
CLICK HERE for Live Stats
CLICK HERE for Mike Baca's live play-by-play
CLICK HERE to stream live video on WatchESPN
Chico State enters Saturday's contest with Humboldt State 0-2 on the season, after suffering two heartbreaking defeats at last weekend's CCAA/PacWest Challenge in Rohnert Park. The Wildcats were edged Friday 83-81 by Dominican, then dropped an 82-80 decision to Notre Dame de Namur. In both games, the 'Cats owned double digit leads in the fourth quarter, only to see them slip away.
Despite not putting a hash mark in the win column, the Wildcats had no trouble filling up the stat sheets. Head Coach Brian Fogel's squad is the highest scoring team among the 13 CCAA schools after the season's first two games, averaging 80.5 points a game. The Wildcats also lead all conference schools in field goals (59), field goal percentage (.450), 3-pointers (15), 3-point field goal percentage (.385), free throw percentage (.848), assists (45) and assists per game (22.5).
Individually, senior guard Whitney Branham—who went up and over 1,000-career points over the weekend—is the CCAA's top scorer, averaging 24.0 points a game, and leads the conference in free throw shooting, hitting all 10 of her attempts from the charity stripe. Madison Wong leads all conference players in assists, averaging six dishes a contest.
On the other side of the coin, Chico State ranks dead last in the CCAA in defense, giving up an average of 82.5 points per game.
Humboldt State is also 0-2 on the young season, losing twice last weekend at the West Region Crossover Classic in Fresno. The Lumberjacks opened Friday falling to Seattle Pacific 69-49, followed by a 54-50 loss Saturday at the hands of Western Washington.
The Lumberjacks are averaging just 49.5 points a game on offense—last in the CCAA—but ranks third in the conference in team defense, allowing just 61.5 points a game.
Humboldt State is led by sophomore guard Tyla Turner, averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Junior forward Isamar Conde also figures prominently in the Lumberjacks' offense, averaging 8.5 points and six rebounds a contest.
Chico State and Humboldt State split their two meetings last season, with each team winning on the other's home court. The Lumberjacks have won six of the last seven head-to-head matchups with the Wildcats, but Chico State leads the all-time series 68-26.
