The Chico State women's basketball team turned in some solid minutes during its five season-opening contests, exhibiting gritty determination, big performances in the clutch, and a "never say die" attitude to fashion an impressive 4-1 record. Now the Wildcats turn their attention to the true business at hand: returning to the upper tier of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams. Conference play officially gets underway Thursday at Acker Gym as the 'Cats host Stanislaus State, followed by a Saturday showdown with CCAA rival Cal State East Bay. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action locally on Newstalk 93.9 KPAY FM. Mike Baca and Mike Wessel's broadcast will be simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website, which will also feature Live Stats and live streaming video.
Chico State was a perfect 3-0 last week in wrapping up its pre-conference schedule. The Wildcats beat Holy Names 71-47 in their home opener on Tuesday, November 12, then went to Rohnert Park over the weekend and won back-to-back contests in the CCAA/GNAC Challenge, edging Concordia (Oregon) 65-61 Friday and nipping Western Oregon Saturday 50-46.
Through the first five games of the season, Chico State is averaging 60.8 points a game on offense, while holding opponents to just 57.6 points a contest—the third-lowest total among the 13 CCAA teams.
Individually, Maddy Wong—averaging a team-high 13.8 points a game—leads all conference players in 3-pointers (20) and 3-pointers per game (4.0). Hannah Washington is tied for 10th in the CCAA in rebounding, averaging 7.2 boards a contest, while Shay Stark ranks third in assists (18), sixth in assists per game (3.6), and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8).
Stanislaus State, the Wildcats' Thursday night opponent, is 1-3 so far in 2019–20. Trying to improve on last season's 9-17 record, Stanislaus split two games at its own Warrior Classic last weekend, beating Holy Names 81-46 on Friday before losing in overtime Saturday to Notre Dame de Namur 71-67.
Stanislaus State ranks as one of the CCAA's top-scoring teams, averaging nearly 72 points a game. Center Kaleigh Taylor, a 6-1 junior, is the Warriors' top offensive threat, averaging 16.8 points a contest.
The Wildcats and Warriors split their two meetings last season, but Chico State has won three of the last four matchups and leads the all-time series 56-32.
Cal State East Bay, which comes to Chico Saturday following a Thursday home contest against Cal State LA, begins the week 2-2 on the season. The Pioneers, 14-16 in 2019–20, were also at the Warrior Classic last weekend, dropping a 60-59 decision to Notre Dame de Namur Friday, but bouncing back Saturday to hammer Holy Names 82-32.
Cal State East Bay is averaging 64.3 points per game on offense, and defensively is the stingiest team in the CCAA, giving up just 53 points a contest.
Senior guard Kincso Kelemen is the Pioneers' leading scorer and 3-point shooter, averaging 9.3 points a game while nailing 11 treys so far this season. Freshman guard Mina Tameilau and junior forward Morgan Greene have combined to average nearly 10 rebounds a game.
Chico State swept the two-game season series with East Bay last season, and holds a 56-21 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
