Thanks to COVID-19 protocols, it was all quiet on the Wildcat front last week, as the Chico State women's basketball team's road contests against Cal State East Bay and Cal State Dominguez Hills were canceled. The good new is the 'Cats are returning to the hardwood this week; the not-so-good news is they will play only one of its two scheduled games. The Wildcats will host Cal State San Marcos Thursday at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday's tilt versus Cal State LA has been cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols and will not be rescheduled.
In an effort to keep Chico State's teams, visiting teams, officials, staff, and the community as safe as possible, and to safeguard the Wildcats' playing seasons as COVID-19 cases spike across the state, no spectators will be allowed for Thursday's game. For ticketing questions or refunds, please contact University Box Office: 530-898-6333.
All Chico State basketball games are broadcast live on AM-1290 KPAY and available locally and online. Fans can also follow live stats. A live video broadcast of the game, featuring play by play from AM-1290 KPAY's Mike Baca and Mike Wessels, is available for purchase on the CCAA Network. For $9.95 per month, fans can access every Chico State game—home and away—along with all live and archived CCAA matchups. Anyone having difficulty signing up for the CCAA Network can submit a support ticket here:
https://www.blueframetech.com/help.
Links to streaming video, audio and live stats are available at
www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section on the homepage and on the women's and men's basketball schedule pages.
Chico State enters the week with an overall record of 5-5 and in a tie for seventh place in the CCAA with a 2-3 conference record. Thanks to last week's cancelations, the Wildcats haven't played since January 2, but the last game was a successful one—Chico State used a big fourth quarter surge to post a come-from-behind 67-58 win over Stanislaus State. The 'Cats hit 14 3-pointers in the victory, and in their last three games have knocked down 40 shots from behind the arc.
Chico State ranks third among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 70.9 points a game. Defensively, the Wildcats are ninth in the conference, allowing opponents 65.9 points a contest. The 'Cats are currently the top 3-point team in the CCAA with 85 total treys on the season, and are second in the conference in team free throw percentage (76.3).
Individually, Charity Gallegos leads the CCAA in assists per game (5.7), is third in steals (2.7 per game), fifth in field goal percentage (.442), and ranks 13th 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 is just below the minimum number to qualify for the conference leader board.
Bailey Jones is averaging 12.3 points a contest (18th in the CCAA), and ranks second in the conference in both 3-pointers (29) and 3-pointers per game (2.9). Myli Martinez is scoring at a 10.2 points-per-game clip, and Jordan Morris is 11th in the CCAA in rebounding (7.1 boards a contest) while contributing 6.6 points a game to the 'Cats' offensive attack.
Cal State San Marcos, ranked No. 5 in the latest D2SIDA West Region poll, is 8-2 on the season and in second place in the CCAA with a 6-1 conference record. The Cougars had their January 6 contest against Humboldt State canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, but San Marcos did get one game in last week, beating Sonoma State Saturday by a final of 69-55.
The Cougars rank second in the CCAA in offense, averaging 74.4 points a game. On defense, San Marcos is fifth in the conference, surrendering 63.9 points a contest. The Cougars are the top shooting team in the CCAA, connecting on 43 percent of their field goal attempts, and rank fourth in team 3-pointers with 79.
San Marcos boasts three of the top 10 scorers in the CCAA. Senior guard Akayla Hackson is second in the conference, averaging 18 points a game and is third in the CCAA in field goal percentage (50.0). Junior guard Dynnah Buckner's 14.8 points-per-game average is seventh in the conference. Sophomore forward Jordan Vasquez is averaging 13.9 points a game (ninth in the CCAA) while leading the conference in field goal percentage (53.6) and ranking eighth in rebounding (8.2 boards a contest).
Junior guard Kelsey Forrester is averaging 11.3 points a game and leads San Marcos with 29 3-pointers on the season.
The Cougars hold a 5-4 lead in the all-time series between the two teams, and are 3-2 against Chico State at Acker Gym. Cal State San Marcos won the last meeting with the Wildcats 69-57 February 8, 2020 in Chico.
