Whenever Chico State and Humboldt State lock horns, it never fails to generate excitement. The two schools have shared a long and fierce rivalry over several decades, and when a lot is riding on the outcome, it just ratchets up the thrill quotient that much more. Such is the scenario this Saturday night, when the Wildcat women's basketball team welcomes the Lumberjacks to Acker Gym for a huge California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) showdown, with sole possession of third place on the line. The game is set to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
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.
Both Chico State (12-5 on the season) and Humboldt State (11-6 overall) enter Saturday's contest tied for third in the CCAA with a 9-5 conference record. The Wildcats have won five of their last six games, including a come-from-behind 63-58 victory last Saturday over Cal State San Marcos.
The Lumberjacks have also won five of their last six, but are coming off a 72-61 loss last Saturday to CCAA leader UC San Diego.
Humboldt State is 6-3 on the road this season, and looking for a bit of revenge when they step onto the Acker Gym floor. In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, Chico State took advantage of six straight missed free throws by the Lumberjacks in the game's final 23 seconds to pull out a 62-61 victory.
Interestingly, Humboldt has had a lot of success at Acker Gym in recent years, winning its last five games in Chico. You have to go back to the 2012–13 season for the last time the Wildcats have beaten the Lumberjacks in the friendly confines of Acker.
Statistically, Humboldt holds a slight edge on the offensive end, averaging 70.1 points a game to Chico State's 65.8 points per contest. The Lumberjacks lead the CCAA in field goal percentage (42.5 percent), and are essentially even with the Wildcats in 3-pointers (Humboldt has hit 122 treys on the season; Chico State 120) and 3-point field goal percentage (Chico State: a conference-best 33.8 percent; Humboldt, 33.6 percent).
Defensively, the 'Cats and 'Jacks are nearly identical. Chico State is holding opponents to just 62.2 points a game, while Humboldt surrenders 62.6 points a contest.
The biggest statistical difference between the two teams is in rebounding. Chico State ranks fourth in the CCAA, averaging 40.4 rebounds a game, while Humboldt State is dead last in the conference with only 30.9 rebounds a night.
Shay Stark has taken over as the Wildcats' leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points a game. The sophomore guard is also the CCAA's top free throw shooter, connecting on 84.4 percent of her charity tosses.
Madison Wong is averaging 11.5 points a contest, and her career-high 45 3-pointers are the most of any player in the CCAA. McKena Barker contributes 9.2 points per game to the 'Cats' attack, and is fourth in the conference in rebounding, averaging 10.8 boards a contest.
Natalie Valenzuela (10.3 points per game) ranks sixth in the CCAA in blocked shots (25) and fourth in blocks per game (1.5).
Humboldt State counters with junior guard/forward Alexia Thrower, averaging a team-high 16.5 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. Senior forward Isamar Conde is averaging 15.3 points a game and has connected for 39 3-pointers, while junior guard Madeline Hatch contributes 9.9 points a night and leads the Lumberjacks with 42 3-pointers on the season.
