If Wildcat fans were looking for offensive fireworks in Saturday's Chico State-Cal State LA women's basketball game, they probably went home a little disappointed. They no doubt were happy about the outcome, though, as the 'Cats defense ruled the evening, holding the visiting Golden Eagles to just 26.6 percent shooting on the way to a hard-fought 59-47 victory at Acker Gym.
 
Chico State won its second straight with Saturday's victory to improve to 9-4 on the season, while maintaining its share of fifth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 6-4 conference record. Cal State LA dropped its fifth consecutive decision to slip to 6-8 overall and 3-7 in CCAA play.
 
Madison Wong connected for three 3-pointers on the night and was the lone Wildcat to score in double figures with 10 points. Three of Wong's teammates—McKena Barker, Natalie Valenzuela, and Vanessa Holland—each added nine points to the 'Cats' attack, with Barker also pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds and dishing out five assists. Shay Stark contributed eight points, five assists, and six rebounds, while Mikaila Wegenke came off the bench to post six points and six rebounds.

Barker's huge night on the boards moved her past Terrianne Young and Joddie Vossler and into a tie with Renee Goldoff for fourth place on Chico State's career rebounding list.
 
Cal State LA jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first quarter, but Chico State outscored the Golden Eagles 9-2 over the final three minutes of the period. Hannah Washington dropped in a layup, Wegenke swished a pair of free throws and Brynn Thoming railed a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats in the lead, and a pair of free throws by Stark gave Chico State a 16-14 advantage heading into the second quarter.
 
Both teams turned the defense up a couple of notches in the second 10-minute stanza, with the 'Cats holding Cal State LA scoreless for the final seven minutes of the period. With the scored tied 21-all, a Valenzuela layup put Chico State back in the lead, and following a 3-pointer by Wong, a Stark layup and a bucket by Valenzuela with 42 seconds to go before intermission enabled the Wildcats to go into the locker room up 30-21 at halftime.
 
The 'Cats pushed its advantage to double digits in the third quarter. Already up 30-23, Chico State ripped off a 10-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Wong 3-pointers and Holland hitting from beyond the arc. Holland's second 3-pointer of the period ballooned the Wildcats' lead to 15, and Chico State wrapped up the quarter on top 45-32.
 
Holland once again dialed long distance in the fourth quarter to extend the Wildcats' lead to 16. Cal State LA finally got some offensive production, outscoring Chico State 10-1 over a four minute stretch to whittle the deficit to 51-44 with 2:34 to play. But the 'Cats' defense established itself when the team needed it most, holding the Golden Eagles without a field goal for the remainder of the contest. A Valenzuela layup and free throws down the stretch by Wong, Stark, and Barker sealed the deal for the Wildcats, as Chico State put the finishing touches on the 59-47 victory, posting its fourth home victory without a loss this season.  
 
Chico State is back on the road next week, traveling to Seaside Thursday to take on Cal State Monterey Bay at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. Saturday matchup in Hayward against Cal State East Bay.