The Chico State women's basketball team has won three straight games to climb back into the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference race. It's a positive roll the Wildcats would like to continue into the 2020 calendar year. The 'Cats play their final game before the holiday break Saturday, as they host the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State at Acker Gym. Tipoff is set for 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 through the Wildcat Athletics website, which also features Live Stats and live streaming video.
The Wildcats have used their three-game winning streak to improve to 7-4 on the season, with Chico State owning a share of seventh place in the CCAA with a 3-3 conference mark. The 'Cats triumphed both at home and on the road last week, downing Cal State Monterey Bay 69-58 Thursday at Acker Gym before heading to Rohnert Park Saturday to edge Sonoma State 66-62.
Eleven games into the 2019–20 campaign, Chico State is averaging 63 points a game on offense while surrendering 61.2 points on the defensive end. The Wildcats have held opponents to under 60 points a game four times this season.
Individually, Maddy Wong is the 'Cats' top scorer, averaging 12.9 points a game, and is tied for the CCAA conference lead in 3-pointers (38) and 3-point field goal percentage (.442). Hannah Washington's 6.5 rebounds a game tops the Wildcats, while Daisha Abdelkader and Shay Stark both rank in the CCAA top 10 in assists—Abdelkader is averaging 3.7 dishes a game, with Stark averaging 3.0 per contest.
Chico State has won three of five decisions this season at Acker Gym.
Humboldt State is 8-3 overall heading into Saturday's contest with the 'Cats, and are tied for fourth place in the CCAA with a 4-2 conference record. Humboldt split a pair of games last week, beating San Francisco State 71-59 Thursday before losing a 59-58 heartbreaker Saturday on the road against Cal State East Bay.
Offensively, the Lumberjacks average 66.2 points a game, while Humboldt State's defense gives up an even 60 points per contest. The 'Jacks have kept opposing teams under 60 points in eight games so far in 2019–20.
Humboldt State is 2-2 away from its home floor, Lumberjack Arena.
Senior forward Alexia Thrower, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, leads the conference in both scoring and rebounding (21.2 points and 10.5 boards a game). Senior guard Madeline Hatch is averaging 10.2 points a game, while senior guard Molly Dixon (9.9 points a contest) is the Lumberjacks' top 3-point shooter with 22 treys on the season.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks split their two regular season meetings in 2018–19, with each team winning on the other's home floor. The 'Cats have won three of the last five head-to-head matchups and lead the all-time series with the 'Jacks 70-28.
