For the Chico State women's basketball team to get back in the win column, it was going to take everyone to play a significant role. The Wildcats had to prove to themselves that in order to be successful, every player needed to make a contribution. That's exactly what happened Saturday night at Acker Gym—and not coincidentally, the 'Cats put their three-game losing streak deep into the rearview mirror. With the offense evenly distributed between starters and reserves, Chico State jumped in front early and kept Cal Poly Pomona at bay the rest of the way, beating the Broncos 79-67.
 
Saturday's win, which featured Chico State's highest offensive output of the 2019–20 campaign, moved the Wildcats to 5-4 on the season and 1-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal Poly Pomona dropped to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
 
The keys to the 'Cats victory was the first half sharpshooting of Maddy Wong, and the second half production from the Chico State reserves. Wong buried five 3-pointers and scored 19 or her game-high 21 points in the first 20 minutes of the contest, while Brynn Thoming, Mikaila Wegenke, and Shay Stark combined for 20 points off the bench in the third and fourth quarters to give the Wildcats just their second victory over Cal Poly Pomona in the last 11 tries dating back to 2014.
 
All told, the Chico State bench outscored the Broncos reserves Saturday 37-6.
 
Thoming and Wegenke each posted a new career high with 13 points on the night, and the duo was effective on the boards, combining for a dozen rebounds. Stark contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the victorious Wildcats.
 
Interestingly, it was the Chico State defense that set the tone Saturday. Cal Poly Pomona was just 1-for-13 from the field in the first quarter, and with Daisha Abdelkader knocking down a 3-pointer and Wong converting a fast-break layup, the Wildcats jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Chico State finished the period on a 7-0 run, with treys by Wong and Thoming giving the 'Cats a 15-5 advantage heading into the second quarter.
 
Chico State extended its lead to 24-7 thanks to another Wong 3-pointer and buckets by Wong and Wegenke. Pomona pulled to within nine at 27-18, but a Thoming jumper and a Wegenke 3-pointer quickly built the 'Cats lead back to a dozen. The Broncos used an 13-2 run to trail 34-33, but a basket by Wegenke and Wong's fifth trey of the night—tying her career single-game high—put Chico State up 39-33 at halftime.
 
The two teams played it pretty evenly in the third quarter, with Pomona once again creeping to within a point at 47-46 with 4:25 left in the period. The Wildcats slowly built their lead back up courtesy of a 10-2 run to close the quarter—Wegenke delivered a bucket and four free throws during the stretch, and Stark buried a 3-pointer to make the score 57-48 heading into the final 10-minute stanza.
 
The Broncos whittled the deficit to six points at 61-55, but a big fourth quarter comeback was not in the cards for Pomona. Chico State quickly built its lead back to double digits, and with Thoming nailing a jumper and a 3-pointer, Stark and Haley Ison delivering buckets, and Myli Martinez converting four free throws, the Wildcats went up by 16 points with under a minute to play. Ponoma outscored the 'Cats 7-3 down the stretch, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep Chico State from cruising to an impressive 79-67 victory.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Thursday night, welcoming the Otters of Cal State Monterey Bay (1-5, 1-3 CCAA) to Acker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.