TURLOCK—For most of the first two quarters Thursday, the Chico State women's basketball team look primed to spoil Senior Night for Stanislaus State, building a 12-point lead and outplaying the Warriors in just about every facet of the game. Stanislaus, however, was not to be denied, scoring three straight baskets before halftime and using that momentum to outscore the Wildcats 24-12 in the pivotal third quarter to take control of the contest and ultimately prevail 67-61 at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.
Thursday's loss dropped Chico State to 14-9 on the season and 9-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Stanislaus State won its fourth straight to improve to 14-12 overall and 12-5 in conference play.
Whitney Branham connected for three 3-pointers on the way to a 15-point night, with Michelle Townsend adding 10 points off the bench. McKena Barker contributed nine points and tied Branham and Tyler Prange for team-high rebound honors with seven boards.
Chico State spotted Stanislaus State the first bucket of the ballgame before ripping off a 15-3 run—Barker scored seven points during the stretch, bookended by 3-pointers from Prange and Townsend—to quickly go up by 10. Sherise Porchia and Madison Wong added buckets later in the period, giving the Wildcats a 19-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
Branham hit a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer to extend the 'Cats' advantage to a dozen early in the second period. Chico State was still up 26-14 when Stanislaus finished the quarter on a 15-6 run to cut the deficit to 32-29 at halftime.
The third quarter began with two Wildcat baskets, but the Warriors answered with an 11-0 run to roar out in front 40-36. Two free throws and a 3-pointer by Townsend pulled Chico State to within 42-41, only to see Stanislaus wrap up the quarter by scoring 11 of the final 14 points to balloon its lead to 53-44.
The Wildcats came out fighting in the final 10-minute stanza. Kayla Taylor and Sammy DeHart hit back-to-back buckets, then a three-point play by DeHart made it a 55-51 game. The Warriors stretched their lead back to eight, but the 'Cats, on the strength of a Branham 3-pointer and a DeHart layup, crept to within 60-57 with 5:53 to play.
Chico State could get no closer as Stanislaus clamped down on defense, forcing five Wildcat turnovers. The Wildcats were still able to twice cut the deficit to three in the final two-and-a-half minutes, with two Barker free throws making it a 64-61 contest with 41 seconds remaining. With time running out, the 'Cats were forced to foul, and Stanislaus hit three charity tosses to ice the game away, winning by a final score of 67-61.
The Wildcat and Warriors meet again Saturday in Chico, going head-to-head at Acker Gym, with the tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. It's also Senior Night, with Wildcats Tyler Prange, Sherise Porchia and Michelle Townsend honored in a special pregame ceremony.
