If the Chico State women's basketball team's holiday wish was to end the calendar year on a positive note, then the Wildcats received everything they could possibly have dreamed of Sunday afternoon at Acker Gym. All 12 'Cats found their way into the scoring column, and led by a season-high 20 points from Morgan Mathis, Chico State had little trouble getting back in to the win column, downing Pacific Union 97-35.
The non-conference victory raised the Wildcats' season record to 7-4, while Pacific Union dropped to 0-11 overall.
Mathis hit four 3-pointers on the afternoon, with the 20-point performance matching her career high. Jazmyne Lillie and Sophia Williams each contributed 13 points to the 'Cats' attack, while Makenzi Laporte led all players with a dozen rebounds. Chico State shot nearly 50 percent from the field, hitting 41 of its 83 shots, while the Wildcat defense held Pacific Union to just 22.6 percent shooting.
Chico State wasted little time jumping out in front, using a Jordan Morris jumper and a pair of 3-pointers by Brandy Huffhines to fashion an 8-0 first quarter lead. Before the period was over, the Wildcats had extended their advantage to 17—Mathis drained a pair of 3-pointers, while Laporte, Stella Rollo, and Bailey Jones dropped in buckets—and went into the second quarter ahead 22-7.
Treys by Zhane Duckett and Myli Martinez highlighted a 10-0 'Cats run to start the second period, and Chico State kept the pedal to the metal by closing out the quarter scoring 11 of the last 13 points—Williams netting three field goals and Mathis knocking down another 3-pointer—to give the 'Cats a 49-16 halftime lead.
The Wildcats' offense continued to roll in the third quarter, outscoring Pacific Union 25-9. Chico State did a great job of spreading the scoring around, as Morris, Laporte, Jones, Lillie, Williams, Haley Ison, and Jiana Creswell all filled up the bucket to give the 'Cats a 74-25 lead to end the period.
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, as the Wildcats scored the first 10 points of the period and eventually ballooned their advantage to 64 at 93-29. Mathis and Lillie put the finishing touches on Chico State's win with late field goals, and the 'Cats cruised to the 97-35 victory.
The Wildcats will be off for the next two weeks to observe the holidays, but will return to action—and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play—New Year's Day in Turlock against Stanislaus State. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
