February couldn't come quick enough for the Chico State women's basketball team. The Wildcats have completed what can only be termed as an uneven month of January, winning three of their first four following the new year, but ended the 31-day window with three straight setbacks. The 'Cats are also glad to be back home, where they've turned in their best work this season, as they host Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday and Cal State East Bay Saturday at Acker Gym. Tipoff for both games is 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 is 10-9 on the season, with all but two of its wins coming in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats are 8-7 and in sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), but only a half-game out of fourth in the tightly-bunched conference standings. The 'Cats came up empty on last weekend's Southern California road trip, bowing to Cal State Dominguez Hills 79-71 and Cal State LA 78-61.
 
Chico State is third in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 69.2 points a game. Defensively, though, the Wildcats are surrendering 68.5 points a contest. The 'Cats lead the conference in free throw percentage (88.3 percent, third-best in the nation) and rank second in field goal percentage (42.5 percent), second in assists (15.95 a game), and third in 3-point field goal percentage (36.7 percent).
 
Individually, Whitney Branham is second in the CCAA in scoring, averaging 18.3 points a game, and leads the conference in free throw percentage (88.3 percent). Branham also ranks third in 3-point field goal percentage (36.9 percent).
 
Though just under the minimum to be included in the official CCAA rankings, Kayla Taylor has 58.1 percent of her field goal attempts. Madison Wong is second in assists (86) and third in assists per game (5.4). Madison Wong is tied for second in the conference in both assists (98) and assists per game (5.2).
 
Cal State Monterey Bay comes to Chico with a 6-15 record on the year, and sits in 12th place in the CCAA with a 5-11 conference mark. The Otters had lost 11 of 13 before pulling off a huge upset last Saturday, edging second place Cal Poly Pomona 50-49 at The Kelp Bed in Seaside.
 
Monterey Bay is last among the 13 CCAA teams in offense, averaging just 56.6 points a game. The Otters defense allows 65.7 points a contest.
 
Monterey Bay is 2-8 on the road this season.
 
Senior guard Aubri Smith is Monterey Bay's leading scorer, averaging 12.6 points per game. Senior forward Courtney Keaton contributes 8.8 points and 9.5 assists a contest, while senior guard Emily Harden is the Otters' top 3-point shooter, with 28 treys on the season.
 
Thursday marks the first time this season that the Wildcats and Otters have met on the hardwood. Chico State has won the last seven games with Monterey Bay and leads the all-time series 21-6.
 
Cal State East Bay, which comes to Acker Gym Saturday following a Thursday matchup in Arcata against Humboldt State, enters the week 13-9 overall and tied with Cal State LA for fourth place in the CCAA with a 9-7 conference record. The Pioneers have stumbled a bit after winning their first three games in January, dropping three of the last five decisions. After topping Cal Poly Pomona last Friday, East Bay was upended at home the following night 67-57 by Cal State San Bernardino.
 
The Pioneers average 64.7 points a game on offense, while giving up 62.5 points on the defensive end.
 
East Bay is 6-7 on the year away from its home floor, Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
Sophomore forward Morgan Greene leads East Bay, averaging 15.1 points and a CCAA-best 13.0 rebounds a game. Junior guard Elayshia Woolridge comes through with 13. 5 points a contest, and senior guard Janae Chamois (9.1 ppg) is tied for the conference lead with 48 3-pointers.
 
East Bay took the first meeting of the season with Chico State back on December 16, downing the Wildcats 79-69 in Hayward. The Pioneers have won the last nine contests with the 'Cats dating back to 2013, but Chico State leads the all-time series 53-21.