POMONA—The Chico State women's basketball team arrived in Pomona Friday primed and ready to extend their early-season winning streak to four in a row, but for the first time in the 2017–18 campaign, the usually productive Wildcat offense had problems finding the bottom of the bucket. Entering the game against the host Broncos, the 'Cats were the top-shooting team in the CCAA, but could connect on just 34 percent of their field goal attempts, as the host Broncos posted a 66-50 victory at Kellogg Arena.
Friday's loss dropped Chico State to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the CCAA. Cal Poly Pomona, which outrebounded the 'Cats 43-25 while holding the high-scoring Chico State offense in check, improved to 4-3 on the season and evened its CCAA conference record at 1-1.
Whitney Branham was the Wildcats' top scorer with 13 points, while Aqeelah Williams knocked down a pair of 3-pointers on the way to a 10-point night. Jo Paine delivered eight points to the 'Cats' attack, with Kayla Taylor adding six points and a team-high eight rebounds. Madison Wong doled out seven assists.
Cal Poly Pomona dominated the boards early in the first quarter, taking advantage of several second-chance opportunities to jump out to a 12-3 lead. The Chico State offense finally started to click midway through the period, using a Taylor layup, a Paine jumper and a Williams 3-pointer to close to within 17-14. The Broncos made the final bucket of the quarter to take a 19-14 lead into the second period.
Pomona continued to control the glass in the second quarter, pushing its advantage to 26-20. Chico State stayed close, as a 3-point play by McKena Barker and a pair of Shay Stark free throws pulled the 'Cats to within 27-25, but they were blanked over the final 3:38 of the period, allowing the Broncos to score six unanswered points and take a 33-25 lead into halftime.
Despite a couple of early Branham buckets, Pomona was able to extend its advantage to 11 midway through the third quarter. A modest 7-2 run by the Wildcats—highlighted by a Williams 3-pointer and a Paine layup—made the score 42-36, but the Broncos finished the period with a pair of buckets to go up 46-36.
Paine buried a 3-pointer for the 'Cats to start the fourth quarter, only to see Pomona rip off seven straight points to balloon its lead to 53-39. Chico State produced one more offensive surge to creep to within 57-48 with 5:08 remaining—Wong hit a 3-pointer, and Branham, Barker and Taylor each knocked down a basket—but that would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as the Broncos outscored the 'Cats 9-2 down the stretch to roll to the 66-50 victory.
The Wildcats take Saturday off before resuming their Southern California road trip Sunday, taking on Cal State San Bernardino at Coussoulis Arena. Tipoff is set for 12 noon.
