OAKLAND—Midway through the second quarter, the Chico State women's basketball team saw itself rapidly losing ground in Tuesday's non-conference game against Holy Names, falling behind 30-24. The Wildcats, however, found a way to flip the switch, and thanks to a smothering defense, outscored the host Hawks 48-24 over the final 25 minutes of the contest to roll to a 72-54 win at Tobin Gymnasium in Oakland.
With the victory, Chico State improved to 3-0 on the season, while Holy Names slipped to 0-3.
Madison Wong connected for four of Chico State's eight 3-pointers on the night to finish with a team-high 16 points. Mikaila Wegenke scored 11 points while grabbing six rebounds, while Natalie Valenzuela contributed 10 points to the Wildcats' attack. Chico State's defense held Holy Names to just 35 percent shooting while forcing 24 Hawks turnovers.
Holy Names jumped out to a 6-4 lead in the first quarter, but a 10-0 Chico State run—bookended by a Wong 3-pointer and a traditional three-point play by Brynn Thoming—put the Wildcats on top 17-8. The Hawks' Ariana Hernandez kept the Hawks close with three 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the period, and the Wildcats had to be content with a 20-19 lead heading into the second quarter.
Holy Names scored 11 of the first 15 points of the second quarter to open up a 30-24 advantage. Chico State's defense then put the clamps down, holding the Hawks to just one point over the final five minutes of the period, and a 9-0 Wildcats run—with Rachel Fielder coming off the bench to score seven points during the stretch—gave the 'Cats a 33-31 halftime lead.
The Wildcats broke the game open in the third quarter. After Holy Names scored the first bucket of the period to tie the game, Chico State outscored the Hawks 22-8 over the next 9:23 to take full command of the contest. A Vanessa Holland jumper, a 3-pointer by Wong and a Valenzuela layup put the 'Cats back on top, and following a Holy Names basket, Chico State ripped off nine unanswered points—Valenzuela started the run by draining a 3-pointer and Wegenke finished it with back-to-back layups—to balloon the Wildcats' advantage to 49-35. Later in the period, Valenzuela and Wegenke converted three-point plays to put Chico State up 55-41 heading into the final 10-minutes stanza.
Chico State was never seriously challenged in the fourth quarter. Wong, Bailey Jones and Myli Martinez all railed 3-pointers to build the Wildcats' lead to 70-49. Katie Mackenzie completed the 'Cats' scoring with a late layup, and Chico State cruised to the 72-54 victory.
Chico State will be back in action Saturday, taking on Academy of Art in the Wildcats' first home contest of the season. Admission to the game is free, with the Chico State Athletics department encouraging all fans attending to make a donation to the Wildcats Rise Fire Recovery Fund to assist with Camp Fire relief efforts.
A table will be set up at the game to make it easy to give. People can also give by simply clicking
THIS LINK or by texting WildcatsRise74to 71777.
Support Students, Faculty, and Staff Impacted by the Camp Fire
The Wildcat Athletics Family is committed to doing all we can to help spread awareness and help for those directly impacted by the Camp Fire, which struck Butte County on Thursday, November 8. We are reaching out to you asking for help raising money for the Wildcats Rise Fire Recovery Fund, established by the University.
Donations to this fund will support students, faculty, and staff in need of aid for clothing and household goods, electronics such as phones and laptops, transportation, childcare assistance, temporary housing, school supplies, or meal assistance.
This terrible disaster will not stop the resolve of our Chico State community. Together, our Wildcats Family will rise.
CLICK HERE for University updates and FAQs regarding the Camp Fire.
