HAYWARD—A first half defensive battle gave way to an offensive explosion in Saturday afternoon's Chico State-Cal State East Bay women's basketball game, with the two teams combining for 91 points over the final 20 minutes of play. The Wildcats used a big third quarter to take command of the contest, then withstood a furious Pioneers rally in the fourth period to snare an entertaining 75-64 win at Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward.
Saturday's victory—Chico State's fourth straight, matching the team's longest winning streak of the season—moved the Wildcats to 11-4 overall and 7-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay dropped its fourth consecutive contest to slip to 7-11 on the season and 4-8 in conference play.
Shay Stark posted a new career high Saturday with 29 points, doing most of her scoring damage at the free throw line, hitting 19 of 21 attempts at the stripe. Madison Wong hit a pair of 3-pointers to register 13 points on the day, with McKena Barker contributing nine points and a career-high 18 rebounds—the most boards in a game by any Wildcats player since Renee Goldoff pulled down 21 rebounds against West Texas A&M on November 17, 2007.
Stark got the game's scoring started with a three-point play, but East Bay used a modest 6-2 run to jump out to an early lead. The Wildcats responded with seven unanswered points—Vanessa Holland beginning the run with a 3-pointer—to put Chico State up 12-8. The Pioneers netted a pair of field goals to close out the quarter and tie the contest at 12-all.
East Bay carried the momentum into the second period, moving out in front 16-13. A Barker 3-pointer knotted up the contest, and Wong's fall-away jumper put the Wildcats up 18-16. The Pioneers defense then clamped down to hold Chico State without a field goal for the final seven minutes of the quarter, but thanks to free throws by Stark and Mikaila Wegenke, the 'Cats stayed close, and the half ended with the two teams tied 24-24.
The Wildcats' offense and defense were both operating at full throttle in the third quarter, turning in arguably the team's best period of the season. While the Chico State "D" held East Bay without a field goal for the first seven minutes, the 'Cats offense put together a 17-2 run—highlighted by a pair of Wong 3-pointers—to open up a big 41-27 lead. The Wildcats widened the advantage late in the period courtesy of back-to-back 3-pointers by Holland and Myli Martinez, as Chico State outscored the Pioneers 26-7 in the period to give the 'Cats a 50-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
East Bay was down, but certainly not out, as the Pioneers opened the final 10-minute stanza on a 9-1 run to pull to within 51-40. Stark briefly righted the ship for Chico State with a layup and a pair of free throws, only to see East Bay close to gap to 55-47. The Wildcats kept East Bay at arm's length at the free throw line—Stark hit five charities, and Wong a pair—but the Pioneers made things interesting, draining three 3-pointers and cutting the deficit to 66-60 with 2:14 left to play.
The Wildcats defense was able to dial back in at the game's most critical juncture, allowing just a single East Bay bucket the rest of the day. Chico State put the game out of reach down the stretch thanks to a three-point play by Barker and free throws by Barker, Stark, and Wong, and despite the Pioneers' late rally, the 'Cats were able to secure the 75-64 win and sweep the season series with East Bay.
Chico State returns to Acker Gym next week to open up a three-game homestand. The Wildcats host CCAA leader UC San Diego Thursday, and Cal State San Marcos on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
