For most of the night Thursday, the Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball teams played pretty much straight up at Acker Gym. But it was one 10-minute stretch that tipped the scales in the Wildcats' favor, and resulted in their second straight victory. The 'Cats outscored the Otters 16-4 in the second quarter and went on to post a 69-58 victory in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action.
 
The Wildcats improved to 6-4 on the season with Thursday's win, and moved into a tie for eighth place in the CCAA with a 2-3 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay dipped to 1-6 overall and 1-4 in CCAA play.
 
Daisha Abdelkader turned in her finest offensive performance as a Wildcat, scoring a season-high 13 points while dishing out six assists. Maddy Wong nailed three 3-pointers to finish with 12 points on the night, while Mikaila Wegenke contributed 11 points. Shay Stark filled up the stat sheet to the tune of five points, six rebounds, and four assists.
 
Wong's first 3-pointer of the night not only put the Wildcats in front 8-6 early in the first quarter, but her 175th career trey moved the senior guard past Melissa Richardson and into fourth place on Chico State's all-time 3-pointers list. A 3-pointer by Myli Martinez bumped the 'Cats' advantage to five, but a 12-3 Monterey Bay run put the Otters in front 18-14. Wegenke finished out the quarter with a pair of buckets to pull Chico State even at 18-all heading into the fateful second quarter.
 
The Wildcats' defense proceeded to hold Monterey Bay to just one field goal in the second 10-minute stanza, giving the Chico State offense the opportunity to pull away—baskets by Abdelkader, Brynn Thoming, Haley Ison, and a 3-pointer by Vanessa Holland giving Chico State its first double-digit lead of the night at 31-20. Late in the period Thoming drained a free throw and Hannah Washington delivered a layup to put the Wildcats up 34-22 at halftime.
 
Another Wong 3-pointer three minutes into the third quarter extended Chico State's advantage to 14 points, but the Otters started chipping away at the deficit, twice cutting the Wildcats' lead to six points. With the score 45-39, Abdelkader came through with a three-point play, and Wegenke buried a huge 3-pointer as the period wound down to put the 'Cats back up by 10 at 51-41.
 
Monterey Bay continued to battle in the fourth quarter, but every time the Otters tried to make a run, Chico State had an answer. Monterey Bay got as close as 55-46, only to see the Wildcats reel off eight straight points—Ison hit a jumper, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Wong and Holland—to give the 'Cats a 63-46 lead with 2:12 to play. Monterey Bay had too much ground to make up and too little time to do it, and late free throws by Wong and Washington officially sealed the deal as Chico State rolled to the 69-58 victory.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, traveling to Rohnert Park for an early afternoon contest against the Seawolves of Sonoma State (7-2, 3-1 CCAA). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.; fans can follow the action on the Internet with Live Stats and live streaming video, available through the Wildcat Athletics website. Mike Baca will provide the play-by-play locally on 93.9 KPAY FM, with the broadcast simulcast online at www.chicowildcats.com.