The last time the Chico State women's basketball team crossed paths with UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos, the Wildcats came back from Southern California with two hash marks in the loss column. So with the 'Cats, Tritons and Cougars all currently ranked among the elite teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), this week's home stand gives Chico State a chance to not only exact some revenge, but also shake things up at the top of the conference standings. The Wildcats host UC San Diego at Acker Gym Thursday, with Cal State San Marcos in town on Saturday. Both games tip off a 5:30 p.m.
Mike Baca and Mike Wessels will be courtside to provide the play-by-play, broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290-AM and 102.9 FM KPAY, and simulcast on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and live streaming video will be available online for both games.
Chico State enters the week 11-4 on the season and tied for third place with Humboldt State in the CCAA with an 8-4 conference record. The Wildcats are riding a four-game winning streak—matching their longest of the season—and coming off a pair of important road wins at Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.
Now the 'Cats put their 4-0 home unbeaten streak on the line against two quality teams which both topped Chico State in their first meetings. UC San Diego, which beat the Wildcats 81-47 back on November 24, is 15-0 on the season and sits atop the CCAA standings with an 11-0 conference mark. The Tritons enter the week ranked No. 4 in the nation in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) top 25 poll.
Cal State San Marcos, which begins the week taking on Humboldt State before facing the Chico State Saturday, is 10-5 overall and right behind the Wildcats in fifth place in the CCAA with a 7-4 conference mark. Two of the Cougars' five losses have come at the hands of UC San Diego, including last Saturday's heartbreaking 68-67 double-overtime defeat at RIMAC Arena.
When San Marcos first tangled with Chico State on January 5, the Cougars came roaring back from a 16-point third quarter deficit to steal a 75-67 win in overtime.
Offensively, the Wildcats are ranked seventh among the 13 CCAA teams, averaging 66.1 points per game. Chico State is fourth in the conference in defense, surrendering 62.1 points per contest. During the 'Cats' current four-game winning streak, they've allowed just 58.5 points a night.
Chico State leads the CCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (.339), is second in 3-pointers (109), and is third in rebounding, averaging 41.3 boards a game.
Individually, Madison Wong leads the Wildcats in scoring (11.8 points a game), and ranks second in the CCAA with 40 3-point field goals. The junior guard has connected for multiple 3-pointers in each of her last nine games.
McKena Barker has been a rebounding machine in January. Following her career-high 18-rebound effort Saturday against East Bay, Barker is tied for fifth in the CCAA with an average of 10.6 boards a contest. Barker, who also contributes 8.7 points a game, is averaging a whopping 13.7 rebounds over her last six contests.
Sophomore guard Shay Stark's offensive production continues to increase, as evidenced by her career-high 29 points in last Saturday's win over East Bay. Stark, averaging 11.7 points a game on the season, has been scoring at a 15.8 points-a-game clip since December 15.
It's no fluke that UC San Diego comes into Thursday's contest undefeated. The Tritons average 78.8 points a game on offense—tops in the CCAA—and rank fifth in defense, giving up 62.7 points per contest. The Tritons lead the conference in 3-pointers (123) and are second in rebounding, averaging 43.9 boards a game.
UC San Diego, a perfect 9-0 on the road this season, has beaten its opponents by an average of over 16 points a game.
The Tritons' most effective offensive weapon is Mikayla Williams. The junior forward is the CCAA's top scorer, averaging 20.3 points per game, while ranking third in the conference in rebounding (11.5 board a contest). Junior forward Hayleigh Hatfield is averaging a double-double (10.3 points, 10.9 rebounds a game), while guards Joleen Yang and Sydney Sharp have combined to hit 61 3-pointers on the season.
UC San Diego has won the last seven head-to-head matchups with Chico State. The last time the Wildcats beat the Tritons was a 76-70 win February 6, 2015 at Acker Gym.
Cal State San Marcos averages 69.1 points a game on offense—fourth-best in the CCAA—while allowing just under 65 points per contest on defense. The Cougars don't attempt a lot of 3-pointers (a conference-low 205), and have connected for just 54 treys on the season. San Marcos can shoot the ball, though, hitting 46 percent of its shots from inside the 3-point arc.
The Cougars are 4-2 on the road so far this season.
San Marcos is led by junior forward Jon'Nae Vermillion, averaging 14.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Emma Forel contributes 13.8 points and 8.6 boards a contest, while sophomore guard Akayla Hackson (10.7 points a game) is the Cougars' top 3-point shooter with 23.
Saturday will mark the eighth time Chico State and San Marcos have met on the hardwood. The Cougars lead the all-time series 4-3.
