ROHNERT PARK—For the first 15 minutes of Saturday afternoon's Chico State-Western Oregon women's basketball game, the Wildcats were literally unstoppable, building a 17-point lead against a quality Wolves team. Over the next 15 minutes, however, the 'Cats were outscored 25-5 and found themselves trailing heading into the fourth quarter. But Brian Fogel's gritty Chico State squad dug deep at precisely the right time, and posted a come-from-behind 50-46 win at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge in Rohnert Park.
Chico State extended its winning streak to three straight with Saturday's victory, improving to 4-1 on the season. Western Oregon slipped to 2-2 overall.
Maddy Wong hit five 3-pointers in the first half and led the Wildcats with 17 points on the afternoon. Hannah Washington scored 13 for the 'Cats, with Vanessa Holland adding a pair of treys and 10 points to the Chico State attack. Daisha Abdelkader pulled in a team-high six rebounds.
The Wildcats displayed outstanding execution both offensively and defensively in the first quarter, as Chico State shot 50 percent from the field and forced Western Oregon to misfire on 10 of 13 field goal attempts. The Wolves went up early 6-4, only to see the 'Cats close out the period on a 12-0 run—Wong and Holland connected for 3-pointers, with Washington, Haley Ison, and Mikaila Wegenke each delivering a bucket—to give Chico State a 16-6 lead.
Wong accounted for nearly all the Wildcats' scoring in the second quarter, knocking down four 3-pointers and a layup, and combined with a layup by Holland, Chico State extended its advantage to 32-15. Western Oregon climbed back into the contest with a 9-0 run in the period's final two minutes to pull to within 32-24 at halftime.
As hot as the Wildcats' offense was in the first quarter, it was ice-cold in the third period. Chico State missed 9 of 11 shots, with a Washington layup and a 3-pointer by Holland the only scoring for the 'Cats. The Wildcats were still on top 37-31 when Western Oregon went on a 9-0 run to finish the quarter, giving the Wolves a 40-37 lead heading into the final 10-minute stanza.
Chico State scored the first two baskets in the fourth quarter, with a layup by Washington putting the 'Cats back in front 41-40. The Wildcats defense did its job, clamping down on Western Oregon and holding the Wolves scoreless for the first six minutes of the period. Free throws by Washington and Shay Stark upped the 'Cats' lead to 43-40, but a Shariah Green 3-pointer with 3:47 remaining knotted up the contest.
The Wildcats immediately retook the lead on an Ison jumper, and free throws by Washington and Abdelkader made it a 48-43 game. A Western Oregon 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining cut the deficit to two, but Washington converted a clutch layup with 7 ticks left on the clock, clinching Chico State's 50-46 victory.
The Wildcats return home next week to open up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play. Thursday Chico State hosts Stanislaus State, with Cal State East Bay coming to town Saturday, November 23. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m. in Acker Gym.
