The Chico State women's basketball team is nearing the halfway point of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule, and the Wildcats find themselves squarely in the mix for the program's second postseason berth in as many years. Head Coach Brian Fogel's squad returns to Acker Gym this week to try to extend its home unbeaten streak while applying some payback to a pair of conference opponents who beat the 'Cats back in December. The Wildcats host Cal State San Bernardino Thursday, followed by a Saturday showdown with Cal Poly Pomona Saturday. Both contests tip off at 5:30 p.m.
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 play this week 8-6 overall and tied with Cal State East Bay for fourth place in the CCAA with a 6-4 conference record. The Wildcats opened the new calendar year splitting a two-game Southern California road trip, beating Cal State San Marcos 71-66 last Friday before seeing their four-game winning streak end Saturday with a 84-48 loss to CCAA-leading UC San Diego.
The Wildcats have feasted on home cooking so far this season, sporting a perfect 6-0 record at Acker Gym.
The 'Cats remain the conference's top team in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5 percent) and free throw percentage (84.8 percent—also No. 1 in all of Division II). Chico State ranks second among the 13 CCAA teams in scoring (70.5 points per game), field goal percentage (42.1 percent), and assists (16.29 a contest).
Individually, Whitney Branham is second among all conference players in scoring (18.9 points per game) and second in 3-pointers (34). She has hit 92.5 percent of her free throw attempts to lead the CCAA and rank sixth in the nation.
Kayla Taylor owns the highest field goal percentage (58.3 percent) of any conference player, while Madison Wong's 5.4 assists per game is the third highest average in the CCAA.
Cal State San Bernardino comes to Chico with a 6-8 record overall and also in the postseason hunt, sitting in eighth place in the CCAA with a 4-6 conference mark. The Coyotes suffered a four-game losing streak in December, but have bounced back to win two of their last three contests. Last Friday San Bernardino dropped a 56-45 road decision to Sonoma State before notching a 71-59 victory over San Francisco State the following night.
The Coyotes are 3-4 on the road this season.
San Bernardino is not a high-scoring team, averaging just 59.4 points a contest, but its defense keeps them in games by allowing only 61.5 points a night. The Coyotes have blocked a CCAA-high 83 shots and lead the conference with a 5.93 blocks-per-game average.
San Bernardino is led by senior center Kaitlyn Parks, averaging 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.57 blocks a game. Junior forward Arianna Knox adds 9.9 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds to the Coyotes' attack, while senior guards Ashley Carson and Sabrea Coleman combine for nearly 19 points a contest.
In the first meeting of the season between Chico State and San Bernardino, the Coyotes scored an 80-65 victory over the 'Cats December 3 at Coussoulis Arena. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 26-16.
Cal Poly Pomona, which visits Acker Gym Saturday following Thursday's road tilt in Arcata against Humboldt State, begins the week 10-4 on the season and in second place in the CCAA with a 7-2 conference record. The Broncos are currently riding a six-game winning streak, including a 76-57 win over San Francisco State and a 79-76 double-overtime win versus Sonoma State last weekend.
Pomona has won four of seven decisions this season away from its home floor, Kellogg Arena.
The Broncos average a solid 68.7 points per game on offense, and own the stingiest defense in the CCAA, surrendering just 57.9 points a contest. Pomona is also the conference's top rebounding team, averaging 44.4 boards a night.
Senior forward Priscilla Brooks is the Broncos' go-to player, leading the team by delivering 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. Junior guard Jackie Ricketson chips in with 10.4 points and 3.3 assists per contest, with sophomore guard Casey McWilliam contributing 9.2 points a game and a team-high 19 3-pointers.
In the season's first meeting, the Broncos dealt Chico State a 66-50 loss December 1 at Kellogg Arena. Ponoma holds a 28-23 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
