SAN JOSE—Sometimes wins and losses are not the main priority when a team takes on an opponent. Many times—especially in the preseason—the games are more of a learning experience; finding out what elements are working, and what needs to be improved upon. In the case of the Chico State women's basketball team, its weekend road trip to the Bay Area for a pair of exhibition games against Division I foes provided the Wildcats with valuable lessons in preparation of their November 9 season opener. After bowing to the University of San Francisco Saturday, Chico State fell Sunday to San Jose State 94-63 at The Event Center on the San Jose State campus.
Natalie Valenzuela led the Wildcats with 11 points on the afternoon, with all of her scoring coming in the first half. McKena Barker, Bailey Jones and Mikaila Wegenke each scored eight points, while Shay Stark added five points to the 'Cats attack.
The first 15 minutes of the contest were among the Wildcats' finest on the day. Early in the first quarter Chico State baskets by Barker and Valenzuela, and 3-pointers by Valenzuela and Vanessa Holland gave the 'Cats a brief 10-9 lead before a San Jose State 3-pointer put the Spartans on top.
Chico State stayed close and was down by just 10 points at 39-29 four minutes into the second period when San Jose State applied full-court pressure that completely shut down the 'Cats' offense. The Spartans outscored the Wildcats 17-1 over the final six minutes of the period and took a 56-30 lead into halftime.
With as many as four freshmen on the court at the same time, the 'Cats did a good job of holding their own in the third quarter. Brynn Thoming knocked down a 3-pointer and Stark dropped in a layup to start the period, and San Jose State outscored the Wildcats by just five points in the quarter to take a 74-43 lead into the final 10-minute stanza.
Chico State continued to battle, and matched the Spartans point-for-point in the fourth quarter. Jones, Katie Mackenzie, Haley Ison, Rachel Fielder, and Hannah Washington all contributed baskets as the Wildcats finished strong with 20 points in the period.
Chico State will play its final preseason exhibition game Saturday, when the Wildcats travel to Pocatello, Idaho to take on Division I Idaho State. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Pacific time at Reed Gym.
