After six straight games played in the friendly confines of Acker Gym, the Chico State women's basketball team hit the road this week for the first time since early November, when the Wildcats took part in the season-opening CCAA/PacWest Challenge. The 'Cats look to get back into the win column and move up the conference standings when they take on Cal Poly Humboldt Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Arcata before traveling to Rohnert Park for a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee against Sonoma State.
Fans can follow the action of both games locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca'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 week 5-3 on the season and tied for fourth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 2-1 conference record. After beating Cal State LA 74-70 last Thursday, the Wildcat saw their four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday with a 54-41 defeat at the hands of Cal State San Marcos.
Despite a lack of offense in the loss to the nationally-ranked Cougars, the 'Cats are averaging 63.9 points a game, while holding opponents to just 60.6 points a contest. Chico State is the CCAA's top 3-point shooting team, hitting 57 3-pointers on the season.
Haley Ison and Brandy Huffhines both rank in the CCAA's top 20 in scoring. Ison is averaging a team-high 11.4 points a game, and her 8.4 rebounds a contest is fourth in the conference. Huffhines is averaging 10.5 points a game, while Myli Martinez (9.3 points per game) is Chico State's top long distance threat with a dozen 3-pointers on the season. Zhane Duckett (9.3 ppg) is averaging 3.4 assists a contest.
Cal Poly Humboldt, which hosts the Wildcats Thursday night, is 3-3 overall and is also 2-1 in CCAA play. The Lumberjacks split a pair of conference road games last week, bowing to undefeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 68-51 on Thursday before rebounding in Hayward Saturday for a 59-54 victory over Cal State East Bay.
The 'Jacks are led by sophomore forward Madison Parry, averaging 14.2 points (seventh in the CCAA) and 8.5 rebounds (third among conference players) a game. Sophomore guard Kaz Parks (9.3 ppg) has connected for a team-high 14 3-pointers on the season.
Cal Poly Humboldt took both meetings with the Wildcats last season, including a 105-96 triple-overtime thriller December 18 in Chico. The 'Cats hold a hefty 72-30 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
Sonoma State, which goes head-to-head with the Wildcats Saturday afternoon following a Thursday contest against Stanislaus State, is 3-6 overall and sitting in the CCAA cellar with an 0-3 conference record. The Seawolves fell to both Cal State East Bay and Cal State Dominguez Hills last week, but won its last contest, defeating Academy of Art 62-51 Tuesday in a non-conference matchup.
As a team, Sonoma State is averaging a conference-low 57.2 points a game on offense but has been solid defensively, giving up just 55.8 points a contest.
Sophomore forward Alli McDonald is the Seawolves' leading scorer (10.9 points per game) and is fourth in the CCAA in rebounds (8.5 boards a contest). Senior guard Cielo Gonzalez (9.6 ppg) has delivered a team-high 12 3-pointers.
In the lone meeting between the two teams last season, Chico State squeaked by Sonoma State 58-56 January 29 in Rohnert Park. The Wildcats own a 70-21 edge in the all-time series with the Seawolves.
