Turn the page. Wipe the slate clean. File and forget. Sweep it under the rug. Any of those clichés apply to the Chico State women's basketball team's mindset as the Wildcats begin the new calendar year the same way they ended the just-completed one—with a Southern California road trip. Just days after concluding 2018 with an ugly loss to Cal Poly Pomona, the 'Cats are determined to open 2019 on a positive note as they take on Cal State San Bernardino Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 1:00 p.m. game Saturday against Cal State San Marcos.
Fans can follow the action of both Wildcats games, as Mike Baca provides the play-by-play locally on Newstalk KPAY (1290 AM and 102.9 FM), with the broadcast simulcast on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online.
Despite seeing its four-game winning streak halted Saturday by Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State enters the week 7-2 overall and in third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 4-2 conference record.
The Wildcats make their second trip to Southern California in less than a week sporting a solid 5-2 road record. Following this weekend, Chico State plays nine of its remaining 14 regular season games in the friendly confines of Acker Gym.
The Wildcats are averaging 64.4 points a game on offense, and rank second among the 13 CCAA teams in 3-point baskets per game (7.6). Defensively, Chico State is fifth in the conference, allowing an average of 62.2 points per contest.
Several Wildcats are among the conference leaders in various statistical categories. Madison Wong, scoring a team-high 11.2 points a game, is fourth in the CCAA with 23 3-pointers. McKena Barker is averaging 9.0 points a contest and ranks in the conference top 10 in free throw percentage (fourth, at 81.5 percent), blocked shots (eighth, 10) and rebounding (ninth, 8.6 boards a game).
Shay Stark, averaging 8.3 points a game, is third in the CCAA in assists per game (4.3), while Natalie Valenzuela (9.8 ppg) ranks seventh in the conference with 11 blocks.
Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State's Thursday night opponent, begins the week 3-7 on the season and in 11th place in the CCAA with a 2-4 conference record. The Coyotes snapped a four-game losing streak last Sunday with a 57-52 overtime win over Stanislaus State.
The Coyotes are 1-1 this season on their home floor, Coussoulis Arena.
Statistically, San Bernardino ranks near the bottom of the conference both offensively (scoring 61.2 points a game) and defensively (giving up 67.6 points a contest).
Coyotes' senior guard Jasmine Sauser is 10th in the CCAA in scoring, averaging a team-high 13.8 points a game. Junior forward Kayla Bibb contributes 9.0 points a contest and is one of the conference's top rebounders, averaging 9.2 boards a contest.
The two teams split a pair of games last season, with Chico State holding a 27-16 lead in the all-time series. The Wildcats enter Thursday's contest having not beaten the Coyotes at Coussoulis Arena in five years.
Cal State San Marcos, which takes on the 'Cats following a Thursday meeting with Sonoma State, is 7-4 this season and tied with San Francisco State for fifth place in the CCAA standings with a 4-3 conference mark. The Cougars began the week Monday with an 88-82 New Year's Eve loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Cougars have won four of seven decisions this season on its home hardwood, The Sports Complex on the Cal State San Marcos campus.
San Marcos ranks fifth in the CCAA in team offense (68.5 points a game), while on defense surrenders 65.3 points a night.
The Cougars' top player is sophomore forward Emma Forel, who ranks among the conference leaders in both scoring (13.9 points per game) and rebounding (9.1 boards a night). Junior forward Jon'Nae Vermillion averages 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, while sophomore guard Akayla Hackson contributes 11 points a night and is the team's top 3-point shooter with 19 treys on the season.
The Wildcats topped San Marcos in both meetings last season, knotting up the all-time series at three wins apiece.
