Following the long holiday break, the Chico State women's basketball team returns to action this weekend with a pair of important California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchups. The Wildcats will be at Acker Gym Friday to take on Cal State LA at 5:30 p.m., followed by a special New Year's Eve matinee Sunday at 12 p.m. against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Mike Baca and Mike Wessels will be courtside to call the action of both games locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, with the broadcasts simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video will also be available online.
Chico State enters the weekend 5-5 on the season and tied for sixth place in the CCAA with a 3-3 conference record. The Wildcats were victorious in their final pre-holiday contest, blasting Simpson University 87-67 December 19 in a non-conference matchup at Acker Gym.
The 'Cats have played their best ball of the season on their home court. Chico State is a perfect 4-0 in the friendly confines of Acker Gym so far in the 2017–18 campaign.
Chico State continues to be the top offensive team in the CCAA, leading the conference in scoring (averaging 73.0 points a game), field goal percentage (43.5 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (36.4 percent), free throw percentage (83.6 percent—No. 1 in all of Division II) and assists (18 a game). Defensively, the Wildcats rank 11th in the CCAA, giving up 69.8 points a game.
Individually, Whitney Branham is the CCAA's leading scorer, averaging 19.8 points a game. The senior guard also tops the conference in free throw percentage (91.3 percent) and is second in 3-point baskets (26) and 3-point field goal percentage (38.2 percent).
Kayla Taylor is No. 1 in the CCAA in field goal percentage (59.3 percent), while Madison Wong's average of 5.4 assists per game is third-highest among all conference players.
Cal State LA comes to Chico sporting an overall record of 5-8 but occupies fifth place in the CCAA with a 4-3 conference record. The Golden Eagles, coached by Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, split their last two games before the holiday break, falling to conference leader UC San Diego 60-56 December 17 before rebounding two nights later to edge Cal State San Marcos 52-46.
Cal State LA has struggled on the road this season, losing five of its six games away from their home court, University Gymnasium.
The Golden Eagles are 11th in the CCAA in offense, averaging 61.5 points a game, and defensively rank seventh in the conference, allowing 65.2 points a contest.
Cal State LA is led by Rikke Fabricius. A First Team All-CCAA selection in 2016–17, the senior center is averaging 15.3 points (sixth in the CCAA) and 11.1 rebounds (fourth in the conference) per game this season. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Barnes is averaging 10.7 points a contest, while sophomore guard Madison Adams has hit a team-high 17 3-pointers.
The Wildcats won the lone meeting with Cal State LA last season, beating the Golden Eagles 66-62 January 13 at Acker Gym. Though Cal State LA has won six of the last nine head-to-head matchups, the 'Cats hold a 34-14 edge in the all-time series.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, which comes to Chico Sunday following a Thursday contest in Arcata versus Humboldt State, enters the week 7-5 on the season and in third place in the CCAA with a 5-2 conference record. The Toros split their last two pre-holiday contests, beating Cal State San Marcos 75-56 December 17, followed by a 73-63 loss to UC San Diego on the 19th.
Dominguez Hills is 3-3 on the road this season.
Like Chico State, Dominguez Hills knows how to fill up the basket—the Toros are second in the CCAA in offense, averaging 71.3 points a game. Dominguez Hills scuffles on defense, though, allowing opponents to score an average of 72.3 points a contest. The Toros are one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, hauling in 44.3 boards per night.
Nautica Morrow is the Toros' go-to player on offense. The junior guard (a transfer from Division I Cal State Northridge) is second in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 18.8 points a game. Senior forward Taylor Farris averages 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds a contest, while junior guard Heaven Holmes has contributed 12.4 points a night while connecting on a team-high 26 3-pointers.
The Wildcats beat the Toros 71-60 January 14 at Acker Gym in the only meeting between the two teams last season. Chico State leads the all-time series 38-16, but Dominguez Hills has won five of the last seven games with the 'Cats.
