SEASIDE—The Chico State women's basketball team is heading to the postseason for the first time in three years, and the Wildcats were determined to go to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament on a positive note. That goal was realized Saturday against Cal State Monterey Bay, as the 'Cats led by double digits most of the way and withstood a big fourth quarter rally by the Otters to post a 55-51 victory at the Kelp Bed.
 
Saturday's win helped Chico State snap a four-game losing streak and conclude the regular season with a 15-11 record. The 'Cats moved to 10-10 in CCAA play, good for eighth place in the conference standings. Because Cal State San Marcos is ineligible for postseason play, the Wildcats have drawn the CCAA Championship Tournament's No. 7 seed and a date Tuesday with No. 2 Cal State East Bay (19-8, 16-4 CCAA) in first round action at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Whitney Branham and Sherise Porchia shared high point honors for the Wildcats Saturday with 10 points apiece. McKena Barker came up just short of her third straight double-double, contributing nine points and nine rebounds, while Madison Wong scored eight points off the bench. Sammy DeHart grabbed a season-high nine rebounds for the victorious 'Cats.
 
Points came at a premium in the first quarter. Cal State Monterey Bay missed 13 of 15 shots, while Chico State tallied just four field goals in the opening 10 minutes. Layups by Barker and Tyler Prange late in the period gave the Wildcat a 10-4 lead.
 
The shooting woes for the Otters continued in the second period, and with Porchia leading the way with seven points, Chico State twice extended its advantage to 18. Monterey Bay's Victoria Dorn finally drained a 3-pointer late in the quarter, but DeHart countered with a layup in the final four seconds to give the 'Cats a 32-15 halftime lead.
 
The Otters spent most of the third quarter chipping away at the double-digit deficit, pulling to within 35-27. But the Wildcats answered, using a Branham 3-pointer and a DeHart layup to fuel a 7-0 run to push its lead back to 15. Monterey Bay made up a little ground late in the period, and Chico State took a 43-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Michelle Townsend knocked down a 3-pointer to start the final 10-minute stanza, but the Otters responded by reeling off 10 straight points to make it a 46-42 contest. Wong railed a clutch 3-pointer to stop the Monterey Bay run, but the Otters kept the pressure on and on the strength of a McKenna Hill trey, cut the 'Cats advantage to 51-49 with 1:04 to play.
 
Monterey Bay came up with a defensive stop and had a chance to tie the score, but Branham came up with a big-time steal and was fouled. Branham hit a pair of free throws to give Chico State some breathing room, and two free throws by Wong put the game away, giving the Wildcats the 55-51 and a sweep of the season series with the Otters.
 
Chico State now turns its attention to Cal State East Bay. The Wildcats' first round opponent in the CCAA Championship Tournament won the lone meeting of the regular season 58-50 on Friday and has beaten the 'Cats seven straight times dating back to 2014.