LOS ANGELES—Mama said there'd be days like this. After finishing December playing its best ball of the season and fashioning an impressive four-game winning streak, the Chico State women's basketball team returned from the holiday break and began the 2020 calendar year Thursday unable to recapture the magic, as host Cal State LA buried 14 3-pointers and shot over 58 percent from behind the arc to dispose of the Wildcats 88-50 at The Eagles' Nest in Los Angeles.
 
The loss dropped Chico State's season record to 8-5, as the Wildcats slipped into a tie for seventh place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 4-4 conference record. Cal State LA snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 5-9 overall and 3-5 in CCAA play.
 
Maddy Wong led the Wildcats offensively, knocking down five 3-pointers to finish with 18 points. Now with 183 career 3's, her third trey of the night moved Wong past Chico State Hall of Famer Kim Abts for third place on the 'Cats all-time 3-pointers list.
 
Shay Stark was Chico State's only other double-digit scorer, contributing 11 points to go along with a team-high five rebounds.  
 
Cal State LA jumped out to an 8-2 lead early in the first quarter, but a Wong 3-pointer and layups by Wong and Stark pulled the Wildcats to within a point at 10-9. The Golden Eagles built their lead back to six, only to see Chico State roar out in front 19-18 on the strength of back-to-back Stark jumpers and a Vanessa Holland 3-pointer. Cal State LA grabbed the lead back by nailing a trey as the period ended to jump back on top 21-19.
 
The 'Cats' offense sputtered in the second quarter, going over five minutes without a field goal before Wong finally drained a 3-pointer with 4:35 left in the period. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, used an 11-0 run to build a double-digit lead, and despite another trey by Wong, Chico State went into the locker room trailing Cal State LA 45-31 at halftime.
 
Things didn't get any better for the Wildcats in the third quarter, as the Golden Eagles connected on five 3-pointers to run their lead up and over 20 points. Cal State LA was up by 27 before the period ended with a Stark free throw and a Holland 3-pointer to make the score 69-46.
 
Cal State LA kept the pedal to the metal in the fourth quarter. With the Chico State reserves seeing the majority of minutes, the Golden Eagles outscored the Wildcats 19-4 in the period. The Wildcats connected for just one field goal during the final 10-minute stanza—Wong's fifth 3-pointer of the night—as Cal State LA cruised to the 88-50 victory and handing the 'Cats their sixth straight loss at The Eagles' Nest.
 
The 38-point margin marks Chico State's most lopsided loss since December 6, 1997, when the Wildcats dropped a 91-46 decision to Lewis and Clark State.
 
The Wildcats wrap up the week with an afternoon affair Saturday in Carson, when they take on Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-7, 3-4 CCAA) at The Torodome. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.