SAN FRANCISCO—The 2018–19 edition of the Chico State women's basketball team showed no intimidation against a Division I opponent, giving the University of San Francisco all it could handle Saturday in a preseason exhibition game at War Memorial Arena at the Sobrato Center. The Wildcats forged a second quarter lead, and then after being outscored 40-15 over a 15-minute stretch, finished strong in the final period to bow to the host Dons by a final of 71-59.
 
Shay Stark was Chico State's top scorer, connecting on 5-of-8 shots from the field to finish with 15 points. McKena Barker contributed 11 points in just 16 minutes of play, while Madison Wong racked up eight points and four assists for the Wildcats in the team's first action of the fall.
 
The game does not count on the Wildcats' official season record.
 
Barker got the 'Cats rolling in the first quarter with a game-opening 3-pointer, and a Stark jumper gave Chico State an early 5-0 lead. After USF reeled off nine straight points, the Wildcats answered with Stark delivering a 3-pointer and a three-point play to go back in front 11-9. The Dons finished the quarter on an 11-0 run to grab a 20-11 lead heading into the second period.
 
Chico State regrouped in the second 10-minute stanza, as two Barker buckets, baskets by Natalie Valenzuela and Mikaila Wegenke, and a Vanessa Holland 3-pointer highlighted a 15-3 run to give Chico State a 26-23 lead. The final four minutes of the quarter was all USF, however, as the Dons rolled up 12 straight points to go into halftime up 35-26.
 
USF broke the contest open in the third quarter. Despite 3-pointers by Wong, Wegenke, and Myli Martinez, the Dons outscored the Wildcats 28-15 to finish the period up big at 63-41.
 
Chico State continued to battle in the fourth quarter, and with Stark leading the way with a pair of jumpers and four three throws, the 'Cats outscored the Dons 18-8 over the final nine minutes to pull to within 71-59 when the game came to a close.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Sunday, taking on Division I San Jose State in an exhibition game scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play locally on Newstalk 1290-AM KPAY, and on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website.