HAYWARD—When the Chico State women's basketball team fell behind by 10 points early in the second quarter Thursday to Cal State East Bay, you got the feeling it was going to be a long night for the Wildcats. It was—but for an altogether different reason. The 'Cats came roaring back to not only erase the double-digit deficit, but take a commanding 16-point lead in the third quarter. The lead wouldn't hold, though, as the Pioneers outscored Chico State 17-6 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation, then went on to beat the Wildcats in overtime 71-67.
Thursday's loss—the second time this season the Wildcats have bowed to East Bay in overtime—dropped Chico State to 11-8 on the season and 7-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Cal State East Bay snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 14-7 overall and 10-5 in CCAA play.
Hannah Washington led the Wildcats with a career-high 21 points, while Haley Ison added 16 points and eight rebounds. Maddy Wong hit three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points, with Shay Stark contributing nine points and five rebounds. Mikaila Wegenke came through with eight points and eight rebounds for the 'Cats.
After surrendering the first five points of the game, Chico State used a pair of Ison buckets and a Washington layup to take an early 6-5 lead. Cal State East Bay answered with a 15-7 run to jump in front 20-13, but thanks to two Wegenke baskets and a 3-pointer by Wong, the Wildcats shaved a point off the deficit and finished the quarter trailing 26-20.
Chico State scored just eight points in the second quarter, but still made up some ground due to a defense that held the Pioneers to just one field goal over the final eight minutes of the period. Down by nine with under a minute to play before halftime, Washington and Wegenke delivered baskets to pull the 'Cats to within 33-28 at intermission.
It was all Wildcats in the third quarter. A 10-0 run to start the period—Washington dropped in two buckets and a pair of free throws, while Wong and Stark each contributed a basket—to give Chico State a 38-33 lead. After East Bay stopped the run with a free throw, the 'Cats ripped off nine unanswered points—highlighted by fast-break layups by Wegenke and Wong, and a 3-pointer by Stark—to go up by 13. Chico State stretched its advantage to 17 before the Pioneers scored seven straight points to cut the deficit to single digits. A late layup by Stark completed the scoring in the quarter, giving the Wildcats a 55-44 lead heading into the final 10-minute stanza.
The Pioneers pulled to within five on the strength of an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter, but baskets by Ison and Washington pushed the 'Cats' lead back up to 61-52 with 4:05 to play. Chico State was unable to score the rest of the period, enabling East Bay to come all the way back and tie the game on a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining in regulation, sending the game to overtime knotted up at 61-all.
Wong's third 3-pointer of the night gave the Wildcats a short-lived 64-63 lead in OT, then after the Pioneers went out in front, Ison dropped in a layup to put the 'Cats back on top 66-65. Again East Bay scored to retake the lead, but Ison connected on a free throw to tie the contest at 67-67 with 53 seconds left. That would turn out to be the last bit of offense Chico State could generate—a Morgan Greene layup and a pair of free throws down the stretch proved to be the difference as the Pioneers posted the 71-67 overtime win.
Chico State travels to Seaside Saturday for an afternoon tilt with Cal State Monterey Bay (4-12, 4-10 CCAA). Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at The Kelp Bed. Mike Wessels will be courtside to handle the play-by-play, broadcast locally on Newstalk 93.9 FM KPAY and simulcast on the Internet through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and streaming video will also be available online.
