SAN RAFAEL—Consistent offensive productive proved hard to come by Friday as the Chico State and Fresno Pacific women's basketball teams squared off in their season-opening matchup at the CCAA/PacWest Tipoff Challenge. Both teams shot just over 30 percent on the night, but an 11-2 third quarter run by the Sunbirds served as the game's turning point, with Fresno Pacific adding 21 fourth quarter points to outdistance the Wildcats 59-49 at the Conlan Center in San Rafael.
Haley Ison and Myli Martinez accounted for all but 16 of the Wildcats' points. Ison posted her fifth career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Martinez recorded 15 points on the night.
Both teams were sluggish on the offensive end to start the contest. But with Fresno Pacific leading 6-5, Chico State closed out the first quarter with a 10-5 run and a four point lead—Ison draining a 3-pointer, a layup, and two free throws—to put the Wildcats on top 15-11 heading into the second quarter.
Chico State converted just three field goal attempts in the second period, but the Sunbirds failed to take advantage of the 'Cats' cold shooting, scoring just nine points in the quarter. Brandy Huffhine's jumper in the lane with one minute before intermission gave Chico State a slim 21-20 halftime lead.
The Wildcats finally began to heat up early in the third quarter. Two buckets by Martinez (one a 3-pointer), a 3-ball by Huffhines, and a Zhane Duckett layup gave Chico State a 31-27 lead four minutes into the period. Unfortunately, Fresno Pacific got hot to close out the quarter, outscoring the 'Cats 11-2 to take a 38-33 lead.
Chico State refused to go away, using a Duckett layup, two Martinez free throws, and an Ison 3-pointer to pull to within 44-40 with 7:31 to play. The Sunbirds almost immediately pushed its advantage to double digits at 51-41, and the Wildcats could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way. Despite late buckets by Duckett and Martinez, Fresno Pacific closed out the contest by hitting five free throws down the stretch to lock down the 59-49 victory.
The Wildcats wrap up the CCAA/PacWest Tipoff Challenge Saturday when they take on host school Dominican University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.; live streaming video (fee required) and Live Stats will be offered online, with links available on the Wildcats Athletics website home page or the women's basketball schedule page.
There will not be a radio or online play-by-play broadcast for Saturday's game.
