The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) hoops season is just days away, but before it dives into all-important conference play, the Chico State women's basketball team has one more contest to concentrate on. The Wildcats, looking to post back-to-back wins for the first time in the 2022–23 campaign, take on the Hawks of Holy Names in a non-conference game Tuesday at Acker Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Fans can follow the action locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessel's broadcast simulcast on the Internet. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online, with links located on the Wildcat Athletics homepage and the women's basketball schedule page. Accessing the live video stream requires a monthly subscription fee that grants users access to every CCAA event on the network, home and away.
Chico State enters the contest 2-2 on the young season, and coming off a weekend split as part of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge at Acker Gym. The Wildcats lost a 66-64 heartbreaker to Western Oregon last Friday, but rebounded Saturday with a 59-52 victory over Saint Martin's.
Forward Haley Ison has gotten her senior season off to a productive start, averaging a team-high 12.3 points a game. Ison leads the Wildcats with six 3-pointers, and her 9.5 rebounds a game rank second among all CCAA players. Newcomers Zhane Duckett and Brandy Huffhines have been big contributors to the 'Cats' early season attack, combining to average over 19 points a contest.
Holy Names, a member of the Pacific West Conference, is 1-4 on the season. The Hawks dropped a pair last weekend in Turlock at the Warrior Classic, falling Friday to host Stanislaus State 64-47 and to Cal State East Bay Saturday 85-46.
The lone Holy Names victory on the season came on November 16, when the Hawks beat NAIA school CSU Maritime Academy 67-56.
Holy Names, 0-26 last season, were picked to finish 11th in the 2022–23 PacWest preseason coaches' poll.
The Hawks are led by sophomore guard Dylan Benitez, averaging 13 points a game while draining a team-high 10 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Jazmine Soto is averaging 10.8 points a contest, with freshman forward Ani Tu'utafaiva being the top Holy Names rebounder, averaging 5.7 boards a game.
Chico State holds a 10-1 lead in the all-time series between the two teams. The Wildcats have won ten in a row against Holy Names, including last season's 97-46 victory in Oakland.
