SAN MARCOS—Though several members of the Chico State women's basketball team were under the weather, the Wildcats collectively shrugged off the aches and pains and dug down deep Friday against Cal State San Marcos, coming back from a seven point halftime deficit to outscore the Cougars 44-32 over the final 20 minutes and score a 71-66 victory at The Sports Center in San Marcos.
 
Chico State's fourth straight win and fifth in the last six outings moves the Wildcats to 8-5 on the season and 6-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State San Marcos dropped to 2-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
 
Whitney Branham had another big game offensively, hitting 8-of-16 from the field and connecting on all six of her free throws to lead the 'Cats with 23 points. McKena Barker recorded her second straight double-double (and 10th of her career) with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Madison Wong delivered 14 points and six assists. Kayla Taylor chipped in with eight points and seven boards as Chico State won for just the second time on the road this season.
 
A Vanessa Holland 3-pointer and layups by Barker and Branham staked Chico State to an early 11-4 lead, only to see Cal State San Marcos reel off seven straight points to knot up the contest. Hannah Washington's layup briefly put the Wildcats back on top, but a late Cougars bucket tied the score at 13-all heading into the second quarter.
 
San Marcos scored 10 of the first 14 points of the second period to go up 23-16, but a 7-0 Wildcats run—Holland connecting for another 3-pointer and Branham delivering back-to-back baskets—put Chico State back on top 24-23. The 'Cats offense would go cold, though, scoring just three points over the final six minutes of the quarter. The Cougars used an 11-2 run to go back in front, and took a 34-27 lead into intermission.
 
Despite three Barker layups and baskets by Branham and Taylor, the Wildcats could only shave one point off the deficit midway through the third quarter. Down 45-39 with 3:44 left in the period, the Chico State offense came alive—3-pointers by Branham and Wong fueled a 10-1 run to give the Wildcats a 49-46 lead. Taylor would hit a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining, putting Chico State on top 51-48 after three periods.
 
San Marcos pulled to within 53-52 early in the fourth quarter, but the 'Cats immediately answered, as a Wong 3-pointer and a Jo Paine layup extended Chico State's advantage to 58-52. The Cougars refused to go away, creeping to within two, but the Wildcats combined a Taylor layup with a pair of free throws by both Branham and Wong to forge a 64-57 lead with 2:31 to go. Free throws down the stretch by Wong, Barker and Branham locked down the victory, and Chico State came away with the 71-66 win.
 
The Wildcats wrap up their two-game Southern California road swing Saturday, when they travel to La Jolla to face CCAA-leading UC San Diego (12-2, 8-0 CCAA). Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. at RIMAC Arena.