After being forced to wait 11 days between games due to COVID-19 protocols, the Chico State women's basketball team was visibly excited during warmups Thursday night as they prepared to host conference for Cal State San Marcos. The return to the hardwood turned out to be bittersweet, however, as the visiting Cougars immediately roared out to a lead they would never relinquish, downing the Wildcats 76-60 at Acker Gym.
With Thursday's setback, Chico State slipped to 5-6 on the season and fell into a tie for ninth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2-4 conference record. Cal State San Marcos won its fifth in a row to improve to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Even in defeat, the Wildcats saw four players post double-digit scoring performances. Bailey Jones led the way with 14 points, while Charity Gallegos contributed 12 points and four assists. Myli Martinez tallied 11 points on the night.
Makenzi Laporte posted her first career double-double, pouring in 12 points while snaring a personal best 16 rebounds. Laporte has now collected 31 boards in her last two games.
Cal State San Marcos dominated the opening 10 minutes of the contest, racing to a 19-6 lead—the lone Chico State points coming on a Jones layup, a three-point play by Martinez, and a Mikaela Bismillah free throw. Martinez added a 3-point bucket before the end of the quarter, but the Wildcats finished the period down 22-9.
The Cougars were still up 24-11 when the 'Cats made a big second quarter charge by scoring 15 of the next 19 points—Gallegos hit a layup and a pair of treys, Jones nailed a jumper and a 3-pointer, and Laporte drained a short jumper during the run—to pull Chico State to within 28-26. San Marcos was able to build its advantage back up to seven, but the Wildcats used a Laporte layup and a 3-pointer by Bismillah to stay within hollering distance, and the Cougars had to be content with a 37-31 halftime lead.
Gallegos hit a jumper to begin the third quarter, only to have San Marcos score six unanswered points to go up 43-33. Once again the 'Cats came charging back, using a 3-pointer by Jones and a three-point play by Martinez to fuel a 10-2 run to whittle the deficit to 45-43. Chico State's offense was only able to manage four points over the final three minutes of the period, however, and the Cougars took a 56-47 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats couldn't find the offensive spark they needed in the final 10-minute stanza, and trailed by double digits for the majority of the period. Bismillah drained her second 3-pointer of the game, and Martinez, Laporte, Gallegos, and Jordan Morris all came through with baskets over the final eight minutes, but it wasn't nearly enough to climb back into the contest. San Marcos outscored the 'Cats 10-4 down the stretch to cement its 76-60 victory.
Almost as soon as Chico State returned to the court, the Wildcats find themselves on the sidelines again. COVID-19 protocols has caused the cancelation of Saturday's scheduled home game against Cal State LA, so the 'Cats will have to wait until next Thursday to hit the hardwood, as they travel to the Bay Area to take on the Gators of San Francisco State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
