POMONA—Call it a case of holiday rust. Head Coach Brian Fogel described it as a "Humboldt hangover." But no matter how you slice it, the Chico State women's basketball team was totally outplayed Saturday in its first action since posting a last-second win over Humboldt State December 15. Cal Poly Pomona dominated both offensively and defensively, building a 30-point halftime lead and cruising to an 85-56 win over the 'Cats at Kellogg Gym.
Saturday's setback halted Chico State's four-game winning streak and dropped the Wildcats to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Pomona upped its season record to 8-2 and 4-1 in conference play.
Madison Wong led the Wildcats, knocking down four 3-pointers to score 15 points, while adding four assists and five steals. Shay Stark hit a trio of treys to finish with 11 points to go along with five assists. Natalie Valenzuela tallied 10 points on the night, with McKena Barker contributing six points and a team-high six rebounds.
Cal Poly Pomona held Chico State to just 34 percent shooting Saturday and outrebounded the Wildcats 50-29. The 'Cats committed 22 turnovers while allowing the most points to an opponent in any game so far this season.
The Wildcats missed nine of their 14 field goal attempts and committed six turnovers in the first quarter, and Pomona took full advantage, racing out to an early 13-2 lead. Chico State's offense finally began to heat up, as a 3-pointer by Wong and jumpers by Valenzuela and Vanessa Holland brought the 'Cats to within 17-9. The Broncos proceeded to go on a 10-2 run to push their lead to 16, and with two Valenzuela free throws closing out the period, the Wildcats were faced with a 27-13 deficit heading into the second quarter.
Chico State's defense tightened up considerably early in the second period, but the Wildcats continued to struggle on offense. After Barker connected on a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 12, Pomona scored eight unanswered points to balloon its lead to 35-15. A jumper by Barker stopped the run, but the Broncos responded by outscoring the 'Cats 17-5 over the final four minutes of the quarter to take a 52-22 lead into intermission.
Chico State bounced back in the second half, outscoring Pomona 19-16 in the third quarter. The Broncos led 63-29 three minutes into the period, but the Wildcats held the Broncos to just five points over the final 6:30. Stark drained a pair of 3-pointers, Wong hit her fourth trey of the night, and free throws by Wong and Mikaila Wegenke fueled a 12-5 'Cats' run to make the score 68-41 heading into the final 10-minute stanza.
The Wildcats continued to play hard in the fourth quarter, but there was just too much ground to make up. Stark knocked down a 3-pointer, Valenzuela dropped in a pair of layups, and down the stretch Bailey Jones and Rachel Fielder scored for the 'Cats, but it was far too little and far too late, as Pomona rolled to the 85-56 victory and handed Chico State its sixth straight defeat at Kellogg Gym dating back to the 2013–14 season.
Chico State returns to Southern California for a pair of road games next week. The Wildcats take on Cal State San Bernardino Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Saturday matinee against Cal State San Marcos, with tipoff slated for 3 p.m.
