Thanks to the two-week holiday break and COVID-caused game cancelations, the Chico State women's basketball team has not played a road contest in over six weeks. That all changes this week, though, as the Wildcats pack their travel bags for the first half of a four-game road stretch. The 'Cats will be in the Bay Area Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to take on San Francisco State, then head for the coast town of Seaside Saturday for a 1 p.m. matinee against Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
San Francisco State has updated its spectator policy to coincide with the University temporarily moving to remote modalities. Only four individuals per competing student-athlete and/or coach (for both home and away teams) will be allowed in the Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza for basketball games.  Those four individuals are to be declared by the competing student-athletes and/or coaches prior to the contest. Chico State will be asked to submit a list of four individuals per competing student-athlete and/or coach, and only those individuals will be allowed inside the Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza after paying the regular price of admission. The event is closed to the general public.
 
Prior to entering the facility, all spectators age 12 and over will be required to provide proof of vaccination using California's Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record. Children under 12 must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult. To obtain a Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record, visit https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov. Present your QR code and government-issued ID to be scanned at the ticket table to verify that you are vaccinated against COVID-19.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay has instituted a no-spectators policy for Saturday's game at The Kelp Bed, with no fans being admitted.
 
There are still several options for following the Wildcats this week. Both 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, 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 of the website's the homepage, and on the women's basketball schedule page.
 
Chico State enters the week 5-6 on the season and tied for 10th place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2-4 conference record. In their lone game last week, the Wildcats lost a 76-60 decision to Cal State San Marcos. The 'Cats' scheduled Saturday game against Cal State LA was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
 
Chico State is one of the top CCAA teams offensively, with its 69.9 points-per-game average ranking third among the 12 conference teams. Defensively, the Wildcats are 10th in the CCAA, surrendering an average of 66.8 points a contest.
 
The 'Cats lead the conference in 3-pointers per game (8.4), rank second in 3-point baskets (92) and are third in the conference in free throw percentage (75.6)
 
Individually, Charity Gallegos leads the CCAA in assists (5.5 per game), is fourth in steals per game (2.5), sixth in field goal percentage (44.0), and 11th in scoring (averaging 13.1 points per contest). Her 90.5 free throw percentage on the season would lead the CCAA, but her 21 attempts is below the minimum number to qualify for the conference leader board.
 
Bailey Jones, averaging 12.5 points a game, continues to be consistent from behind the arc. She ranks third in the CCAA in both 3-pointers (31) and 3-pointers per game (2.8), and is sixth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (32.0).
 
Myli Martinez is averaging 10.3 points a contest, and is second among all CCAA players in free throw percentage (84.8).
 
Makenzi Laporte is averaging 7.0 points a game and has pulled down 31 rebounds in the Wildcats' last two contests. As a result, Laporte is 11th in the CCAA with an average of 7.1 boards per game. Jordan Morris, averaging 6.2 points a game, is right behind Laporte at No. 12 in the conference rebound rankings, averaging 6.7 boards a contest.
 
San Francisco State is 5-8 overall and is also tied for 10th place in the CCAA with a 3-6 conference mark. After a 4-3 start, the Gators have lost five of their last six games heading into Thursday's contest with the 'Cats. San Francisco State got both of its games in last week, beating Cal State Dominguez Hills 59-57 on Thursday before falling to CCAA leader Cal State East Bay Saturday 74-51.
 
The Gators are ninth in the CCAA in offense, averaging 60.9 points a game. Defensively, San Francisco State ranks eighth in the conference, giving up an average of 64.8 points per contest.
 
Freshman guard Mya Blake is the Gators' leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points a game. Sophomore forward Jolene Armendariz (8.2 points per game) tops the team in rebounding (6.0 boards a game) and 3-point baskets (23).
 
Chico State has won eight of the last nine meetings with San Francisco State and leads the all-time series with the Gators 78-24.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay, which hosts the Wildcats Saturday following a Thursday tilt against Stanislaus State, begins the week 1-9 on the season and at the bottom of the CCAA standings with an 0-6 conference record. The Otters, currently in the midst of a six-game losing streak, have had four contests canceled this month due to COVID-19 protocols; their 73-46 loss last Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills is the team's lone game since December 11th.
 
Monterey Bay has struggled offensively in the 2021–22 campaign, averaging just 52.5 points per game, while giving up 66.3 points on the defensive end. The Otters don't shoot a lot of 3-pointers—Monterey Bay has connected on a conference-low 41 treys on the season.
 
Though she's only played in six games for the Otters, senior guard Lauryn Pointer averages a team-high 13.8 points a game and leads Monterey Bay with 11 3-pointers. Freshman guard Emily Perez averages 10.8 points per contest and is the CCAA's top free throw shooter, connecting on 86.5 percent of her foul shots. Freshman forward Sarah Shaw, averaging 6.3 points a game, is the Otters' rebound leader (6.3 boards a contest).
 
Chico State holds a 25-6 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams. The Wildcats have won the last 12 meetings and have not lost to the Otters at The Kelp Bed since February 24, 2011.