The Chico State women's basketball team had to carry around the pain of two tough road losses for an entire week, and the Wildcats were ready to take out their frustrations on someone. As a result, the 'Cats were not the most congenial of hosts Thursday when they welcomed Cal State Dominguez Hills to Acker Gym. Chico State put together perhaps its most consistent 40 minutes of basketball this season, grabbing an early double-digit lead and shooting nearly 51 percent from the field in a 78-54 contest that was even more lopsided than the final score indicated.
 
Thursday's win put a halt to Chico State's three-game losing streak, and moved the Wildcats to 8-4 on the season and 5-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State Dominguez Hills dropped its third straight and fifth in the last six decisions to dip to 7-7 overall and 3-5 in CCAA play.
 
A trio of Wildcats registered double-digit scoring nights. Shay Stark hit seven of nine field goal attempts on the way to a team-high 18 points, while also matching her career high with seven assists. Makaila Wegenke tied her career best with 11 points, with Madison Wong finishing with 10 points and eight assists.
 
McKena Barker scored eight points and hauled in a career-best 15 rebounds in just 23 minutes of action. Barker's 15 boards were the most by a Wildcat since Analise Riezebos snared 15 against Sonoma State on December 7, 2013.
 
The 'Cats never trailed in the contest, and set the tone early by jumping out to 13-2 first quarter lead—Wong nailed the first of her two 3-pointers on the night, with Barker, Wegenke and Natalie Valenzuela each contributing layups. Later in the period Valenzuela drained a jumper and Stark knocked in a free throw to give Chico State a 16-6 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Dominguez Hills cut the 'Cats' advantage to seven about two minutes into the second period, but that would be as close as the Toros would get the rest of the night. Chico State promptly ripped off a 12-1 run—highlighted by a Stark 3-pointer—to push its lead to 30-12, and maintained the 18-point cushion with the help of baskets by Stark, Wong, Wegenke, Vanessa Holland and Hannah Washington, taking a 40-22 lead into intermission.
 
Chico State officially put the game away in the third quarter. Stark and Wong each railed a 3-pointer to spark a 17-4 run as the 'Cats went up 57-26. A three-point play by Washington and a Barker bucket closed out the period with the Wildcats boasting a 62-33 lead.
 
A pair of 3-pointers by Brynn Thoming early in the final period gave Chico State its biggest lead of the night at 68-33. The Wildcat reserves took over for the starters with about seven minutes to play, with Haley Ison and Bailey Jones getting into the scoring column as the Wildcats cruised to the 78-54 victory, notching their third straight home win without a loss this season.   
 
Chico State returns to action Saturday as the Wildcats host the Golden Eagles of Cal State LA at Acker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.