Still smarting from Thursday's double-overtime loss to Cal State San Bernardino, the Chico State women's basketball team was hoping to take out its frustrations Saturday on one of the top teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The visiting Cal Poly Pomona Broncos had other ideas, though, taking advantage of the Wildcats' poor shooting in the first half to build a sizeable early lead and cruise to a 62-50 victory at Acker Gym.
 
Chico State lost its fourth straight decision and fifth in the last six games to slip to 12-9 on the season. More importantly, Saturday's setback—combined with Cal State San Marcos winning earlier in the day against Cal State Dominguez Hills—dropped the Wildcats to fifth place in the CCAA standings with a 9-9 conference mark. Cal Poly Pomona improved to 20-4 overall and 16-3 in CCAA play.
 
With four regular season games remaining, the 'Cats will now need a strong finish and some help to finish among the top four in the conference and earn a first round home game in next month's CCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Shay Stark led the Wildcats with 13 points on the night, with McKena Barker contributing eight points and three assists. Mikaela Bismillah and Hannah Washington came off the bench to score seven and six points, respectively.
 
Things started promisingly for Chico State, as a Natalie Valenzuela layup and a 3-pointer by Madison Wong got the Wildcats out to a quick 5-2 lead. Pomona answered with an 11-3 run to go out in front 13-8, but the 'Cats clawed back to within a point on the strength of two Barker layups and a bucket by Mikaila Wegenke. The Broncos closed out the quarter on a modest 5-0 run to extend their lead to 20-14 heading into the second period.
 
The next 10 minutes saw the Wildcats dig themselves a hole they would not be able to climb out of the rest of the night. Chico State missed 13 of 14 field goal attempts in the second quarter, and the 'Cats lone basket—a jumper by Stark—came with 3:06 remaining in the period. Pomona, meanwhile, connected on eight of their 16 shots, and built a 39-19 advantage by halftime.
 
Though Chico State shot slightly better in the third quarter, the Broncos never relinquished their double-digit lead, twice extending its advantage to 24 points and taking a comfortable 56-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Wildcat reserves gave Head Coach Brian Fogel some welcome energy and quality minutes in the fourth period, as Chico State outscored Pomona 17-6 in the quarter. Haley Ison knocked down a 3-pointer and scored five points in the final 10-minute stanza, with Bismillah and Washington chipping in with four points apiece. The 'Cats got as close as 11 points, but Pomona was easily able to run out the clock and lock down the 62-50 victory, beating Chico State for the second time this season.  
 
The Wildcats travel to Southern California next week for their final road trip of the regular season. Thursday the 'Cats face Cal State LA, then head to Carson Saturday for a matchup with Cal State Dominguez Hills. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m.