LA JOLLA—For the moment, there's little doubt that UC San Diego is the team to beat in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Chico State women's basketball team had ideas of doing just that Saturday when it went head-to-head with the conference-leading Tritons, but a hot-shooting UC San Diego squad more than matched its pregame reputation, shooting over 54 percent on the night and posting 50 first half points on the way to an 84-48 victory at RIMAC Arena.
Saturday's loss—the most lopsided defeat since December 5, 1997, when the 'Cats fell 106-59 to Central Washington—snapped Chico State's four-game winning streak and dropped the Wildcats to 8-6 overall and 6-4 in the CCAA. UC San Diego won its ninth straight contest to improve to 13-2 on the season and 9-0 in conference play.
Madison Wong was Chico State's high scorer, collecting 12 points on the night. McKena Barker and Aqeelah Williams scored seven points apiece, with Kayla Taylor and Brynn Thoming each adding six points. The Wildcats shot just 30.9 percent (17-55) from the field, and were outrebounded by the Tritons 48-24.
Things actually got off to an encouraging start for Chico State. Baskets by Wong and Taylor gave the Wildcats an early 4-3 lead, only to see UC San Diego rip off a 15-0 run to jump out in front 18-4. Before the quarter was over, the Tritons had connected for six 3-pointers, and even though Jo Paine and Vanessa Holland hit shots late in the period, the 'Cats trailed 30-10 heading into the second quarter.
Williams provided a spark to the Wildcat offense in the opening minutes of the second period, knocking down a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to bring Chico State to within 38-19. UC San Diego promptly reeled off 11 unanswered points to extend its advantage to 30. Back-to-back buckets by Barker wrapped up the first half, with the Tritons up 50-23 at intermission.
Things didn't get any better in the third quarter. The Tritons cooled off slightly on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, held the Wildcats without a field goal. Free throws by Wong and Whitney Branham were the lone Chico State points of the period, and UC San Diego boasted a commanding 69-26 lead into the fourth quarter.
To their credit, the 'Cats continued to battle, and came out firing in the final period. Chico State scored 16 straight points—Wong railing two 3-pointers and dropping in a layup, Shay Stark converting a three-point play, and Barker adding a bucket—to make it a 69-42 contest. UC San Diego was forced to hurriedly put its starters back into the game, and the Tritons were once again able to pull away. Thoming hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Wildcats down the stretch, but UC San Diego was able to run out the clock and cruise to the 84-48 victory.
Chico State returns home next week for a pair of CCAA contests. Thursday the Wildcats host Cal State San Bernardino, with Cal Poly Pomona visiting Acker Gym on Saturday. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.
