It's never fun to enter the end-of-the-year break with emotions that include even a sliver of frustration. The members of the Chico State women's basketball team, while welcoming the two-week respite, were forced to carry the disappointment of a triple-overtime loss to Humboldt State into their holiday festivities. But the well-rested Wildcats have returned to Chico, ready to put that setback in the rearview mirror and start the New Year on a positive note when they host Stanislaus State Sunday afternoon at Acker Gym. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
Tickets are on sale at Acker Gym beginning Sunday at noon. Please note that all fans (age 12 and older) attending Chico State basketball events must show proof of their fully-vaccinated status, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered by a healthcare professional from within 72 hours of the start of the event.
 
PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with recently announced state health and safety guidelines, fans must wear masks at all times while indoors on the Chico State campus.
 
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM Radio, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessel's broadcast also accessible on the Internet via the Wildcat Athletics website. The play-by-play on KPAY will begin immediately following Sunday's Las Vegas Raiders-Indianapolis Colts football broadcast.
 
Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online, with links located on the Chico State women's basketball schedule page and home page calendar on the Wildcat Athletics website, at chicowildcats.com. A $9.95 monthly charge is required to access the live video stream on the CCAA Network.
 
Chico State enters Sunday's action with an overall record of 4-5 and possessing a share of sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2-3 conference record. In their last game on December 18, the Wildcats and Humboldt State went three nail-biting overtime periods before the Lumberjacks finally emerged with a 105-96 victory. Even in defeat, the 'Cats' Charity Gallegos came within a whisker of recording the program's first triple-double since 1993 (25 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds), while Bailey Jones set a new program and CCAA single-game record by knocking down 10 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 32-point performance.
 
The Wildcats will not only be attempting to get back in the win column Sunday, but also avenge an early season loss to Stanislaus State. In their first meeting of the 2021–22 campaign, the Warriors topped the 'Cats 68-64 November 27 at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock.
 
Chico State ranks third among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 71.3 points a game. Defensively, the Wildcats are 10th in the conference, allowing opponents 66.8 points a contest.
 
Individually, Gallegos leads the CCAA in assists per game (5.7), is fourth in field goal percentage (.442), fifth in steals (2.7 per game), and ranks 12th in the conference in scoring, averaging 13.2 points a game Her 90.5 free throw percentage on the season would lead the CCAA, but her 21 attempts leaves Gallegos just below the minimum number to qualify for the conference leader board.  
 
Jones is averaging 12.4 points a contest and is second in the CCAA in both 3-pointers (26) and 3-pointers per game (2.9). Myli Martinez is scoring at a 10.2 points-per-game clip, and Jordan Morris is 10th in the conference in rebounding (6.9 boards a game) while contributing 6.6 points a game to the 'Cats' offensive attack.
 
Stanislaus State is one of the hottest teams in the CCAA at the beginning of the New Year, boasting a 10-1 record on the season and owning a share of first place in the CCAA standings with a 5-0 conference mark. The Warriors have won their last 10 contests, including their most recent, a 55-52 decision December 18 over Sonoma State.
 
Stanislaus ranks eighth in the CCAA in offense, averaging 63.4 points per game. The Warriors have been getting in done on defense, surrendering just 56.4 points a contest—second-best in the conference. Stanislaus is also one of the top rebounding teams in the CCAA, averaging 42.3 boards a game.
 
Senior forward Kyanna Davis is the CCAA's leading scorer, averaging 20.1 points a game, and paces the Warriors in rebounding (8.4 boards a game) and 3-pointers (25). Three other Stanislaus State players are averaging double digits in scoring—freshman guard Da'Myiah Lewis (12.5 points per game), senior center Kaleigh Taylor (10.6 ppg), and sophomore guard Liliana Marques (10.1 ppg).
 
Despite losing to Stanislaus State in late November, Chico State holds a 57-34 edge in the all-time series between the two teams. The Warriors, however, have won three of the last four head-to-head matchups with the Wildcats.