Following a 2016-17 campaign that resulted in its first postseason appearance in three years, the Chico State women's basketball team is poised to make some noise in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament. The Wildcats, entered as the No. 7 seed in the eight-team tourney, are hoping to sweep their way to the conference title and secure an automatic bid in next month's NCAA Championship Tournament. The process starts Tuesday, when the 'Cats travel to Hayward to take on No. 2 seed Cal State East Bay in first round action. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.
Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM, with the game simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video will also be available online.
The Wildcats and Pioneers will be squaring off for the second time in five days. East Bay won the lone regular season meeting with the 'Cats 58-50 last Friday at Pioneer Gymnasium. Chico State was able to rebound from the setback and end the season on a positive note Saturday, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 55-51 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay.
Chico State enters postseason play with a 15-11 record. The Wildcats finished CCAA play tied for seventh place with a 10-10 conference mark.
The 'Cats have been challenged on the road this season, losing seven of 13 contests away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym.
Chico State's offense is ranked seventh in the CCAA, averaging 62.6 points per game. The Wildcats boast the second-stingiest defense in the conference, allowing just 58.6 points a contest.
Whitney Branham leads the Wildcats (and is third in the CCAA) in scoring, averaging 14.6 points a game. The junior guard leads the conference in free throw percentage (89.0 percent) and ranks fifth in the CCAA with 61 3-point field goals.
McKena Barker has stepped up her game down the stretch. The sophomore forward is averaging 10.5 points over her last six games and 8.4 rebounds in her last nine contests. Freshman guard Madison Wong has provided some effective offensive punch off the bench, averaging 9.2 points over her last five games.
Cal State East Bay enters the CCAA Championship Tournament after posting a 19-8 regular season record and a second place conference finish (16-4). The Pioneers are in the midst of a very positive roll, having won six straight and 11 of their last 12. After beating the Wildcats Friday, East Bay capped off the regular season Saturday with a 72-65 victory over Stanislaus State.
East Bay is 9-4 this season at Pioneer Gymnasium and has won the last seven contests on its home floor.
The Pioneers rank third in the CCAA in offense, averaging 64.5 points a game. On defense, East Bay is fourth in the conference, giving up just 60.2 points a contest.
Senior guard Shomari Harris is the CCAA's leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points a game and paces the Pioneers with 38 3-pointers on the season. Senior center Remi Puou contributes 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds a night, while freshman forward Morgan Greene averages 7.9 points and a CCAA-best 9.8 rebounds per contest.
Cal State East Bay has won the last seven meetings with the Wildcats dating back to 2014. Chico State leads the all-time series with the Pioneers 53-19.
Postseason notes:
Chico State is making its first postseason appearance since the 2013-14 season, when the Wildcats finished 19-10 and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional.
The 'Cats are making their eighth CCAA Championship Tournament appearance since the conference tourney originated in 2007-08. Chico State won the inaugural tournament in 2008 and reached the finals in 2010.
All-time, Chico State is 8-6 in CCAA Championship Tournament games.
Tyler Prange is the only Wildcat making her second appearance in postseason play. The four-year senior was a member of Chico State's 2013-14 squad.
2017 CCAA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, February 28
First Round (at campus sites)
No. 8 Sonoma State (13-13, 9-11 CCAA) at No. 1 UC San Diego (21-5, 17-3 CCAA), 5:30 p.m.
No. 7 Chico State (15-11, 10-10 CCAA) at No. 2 Cal State East Bay (19-8, 16-4 CCAA), 6 p.m.
No. 6 Cal State San Bernardino (15-9, 12-8 CCAA) at No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona (16-10, 14-6 CCAA), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Cal State LA (15-13, 12-8 CCAA) at No. 4 Stanislaus State (15-14, 13-7 CCAA), 7 p.m.
Friday, March 3
Semifinals at The Sports Center, Cal State San Marcos
Game #1, 12:05 p.m.—Winner of No. 8/No. 1 vs. winner of No. 5/No. 4
Game #2, 2:35 p.m.—Winner of No. 7/No. 2 vs. winner of No. 6/No. 3
Friday, March 4
Finals at Cal State San Marcos
Championship game, 5:05 p.m.—Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. winner of Semifinal #2
Tournament winner earns CCAA's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional March 10-13.
