SAN MARCOS—Following its disheartening loss Thursday to Cal State San Bernardino, the Chico State women's basketball team began its Saturday afternoon clash with Cal State San Marcos showing a much-needed spark, clearly outplaying one of the best teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). But a 16-point third quarter lead proved not to be enough to get the Wildcats back in the win column, as the host Cougars battled back to tie the contest in regulation and prevail in overtime 75-67 at The Sports Center on the Cal State San Marcos campus.
Saturday's setback—Chico State's third in a row—dropped the Wildcats to 7-4 on the season, and 4-4 in the CCAA. Cal State San Marcos won its second straight to improve to 9-4 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
Despite the loss, a pair of Wildcats—Shay Stark and Natalie Valenzuela—posted new career highs in scoring. Stark tallied 22 points, while Valenzuela contributed 21 points—16 coming in the first half. Madison Wong scored 11 points while dishing out four assists, and McKena Barker hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Chico State defense set the tone in the opening quarter, holding San Marcos without a field goal for the first seven-and-a half minutes. The Wildcats' offense established itself early, too, using a 13-0 run—Valenzuela contributing a 3-pointer and a pair of layups—to give Chico State a 15-3 lead. Valenzuela added two more buckets before the end of the period to give the 'Cats a 20-11 lead.
Despite a low-scoring second quarter, Chico State's swarming defense continued to keep the pressure on the Cougars, allowing the Wildcats to extend their advantage. A 3-pointer and layup by Stark re-established the 'Cats' double-digit lead at 25-15, but San Marcos quickly cut the deficit in half. Chico State finished the quarter on a 6-0 run, as two free throws by Valenzuela and layups by Valenzuela and Myli Martinez gave the Wildcats a 32-21 halftime lead.
Wong put the 'Cats offense on her shoulders early in the third quarter, draining a trio of 3-pointers, and combined with buckets by Valenzuela and Stark, ballooned Chico State's lead to 46-30. The Cougars crept to within eight thanks to a 10-2 run, but a hook shot by the Wildcats' Rachel Fielder to close out the period gave Chico State a 50-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats couldn't buy a bucket through the first five minutes of the period, and San Marcos took full advantage, scoring seven unanswered points to pull to within 50-47. Vanessa Holland ended the 'Cats' offensive drought with a clutch 3-pointer, and a Stark layup pushed Chico State's lead back to eight. A 6-0 Cougars run made it a two-point game, but Stark answered with a 3-pointer to make the score 58-53. San Marcos once again surged offensively, notching six straight points to take a 59-58 lead with 1:06 remaining.
Holland came up big again for the Wildcats, taking a pass from Stark and dropping in a layup to put Chico State back in front. With 30 seconds left, San Marcos committed a costly turnover, and a Barker free throw gave the Wildcats a two-point lead. The Cougars sank a layup to tie the contest with 21 seconds to go, giving Chico State the final shot in regulation. Valenzuela's jumper at the buzzer was off the mark, sending the game into overtime knotted up at 61-all.
A Valenzuela 3-pointer briefly gave the Wildcats a 64-63 lead in OT, but four straight points by San Marcos put the Cougars in front 67-64. Free throws by Stark and Mikaila Wegenke squared the contest at 67-apiece, but thanks in part to Stark, Valenzuela, and Barker all fouling out, the 'Cats were held scoreless over the final 2:11. San Marcos used a layup to take the lead for good, and converted six free throws down the stretch to ice it, giving San Marcos the 75-67 victory.
Chico State return to Acker Gym next week to host a pair of conference matchups. The Wildcats take on Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday, followed by a Saturday showdown with Cal State LA. Tipoff for both games is 5:30 p.m.
