Of the 15 games the Chico State women's basketball team has played this season, only five have been played in the friendly confines of Acker Gym—and just one over the past month. That lack of home court play all changes this week, however, as the Wildcats begin a stretch of six home games in their final eight contests by hosting Cal Poly Pomona Thursday and Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.
 
What makes the abundance of home cooking even sweeter is that, for the first time since January 2, Chico State will get to play in front of the Wildcat faithful. Fans will be admitted to both the Thursday and Saturday contests, though the number of spectators in Acker Gym will be capped at 750 and proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required.
 
To meet new California Department of Public Health (CDPH) health and safety guidelines, Chico State updated its policies for large indoor athletic, theatre, music, and performing arts events occurring on campus. Beginning Wednesday, January 5, attendees age 2 or older are required to show proof of full vaccination (at least two weeks after last dose) or a negative COVID-19 test (via a PCR test within two days or antigen test within one day of the event). This policy applies to all athletic events at Acker Gym and all Chico Performances, North State Symphony, and School of the Arts events at Laxson Auditorium.
 
To meet the vaccine requirement, attendees must show their COVID-19 vaccination card, a digital record that includes a QR code, or a digital image along with a photo ID matching the name on the card or screen. Attendees who cannot provide proof of vaccination should bring a photo ID and either a printout or photo of their negative COVID-19 test taken within the 48-hour (PCR tests) or 24-hour (antigen tests) window before the event start time. People ages 17 and under accompanied by an adult will not be required to show a photo ID. No at-home tests will be accepted for entry and self-attestation will not be accepted as a mode of verification.
  
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to allow additional time for verification and entry. No COVID-19 testing opportunities will be available for event attendees on site. Prior to arrival, guests should have their negative COVID-19 results completed and in hand.
 
The University's indoor mask requirement remains in effect for all events and all Chico State indoor spaces.
 
Those not planning on attending the games in person can follow the action of both contests on AM-1290 KPAY, available locally and online. Fans can also keep up with the action online via Live Stats. Live video broadcasts of the games, featuring play-by-play from AM-1290 KPAY's Mike Baca and Mike Wessels, are 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 on the homepage and on the women's basketball schedule pages.
 
Chico State enters the week with an 8-7 record on the season, and occupying sixth place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with a 5-5 conference mark. The Wildcats, in position to earn one of the six berths to next month's CCAA Tournament, will try to use this bevy of upcoming home games to make a big end-of-the-season push. Last week, the 'Cats completed a successful 3-1 road trip—after bowing to Cal Poly Humboldt on Thursday, Chico State rebounded Saturday to edge Sonoma State 58-56.
 
The Wildcats are 3-2 so far this season at Acker Gym.
 
Offensively, Chico State is currently tied for fifth among the 12 CCAA teams with a scoring average of 67.4 points a game. On the defensive end, the Wildcats are seventh in the conference, surrendering 64.5 points a contest. The 'Cats lead the CCAA in 3-point baskets per game (8.3), and rank second in 3-pointers (124) and team free throw percentage (74.4 percent).
 
Individually, Charity Gallegos tops the CCAA with 71 assists on the season. She also ranks second among all conference players in assists per game (5.1) and assists-to-turnover ratio (2.5), seventh in steals per game (2.2), and 13th in scoring (12.4 points a game).
 
Bailey Jones (averaging 10.8 points a game) is fourth in the CCAA in 3-pointers (36) and 3-pointers per game (2.4). Makenzi Laporte (7.7 points, 6.6 rebounds a game) and Haley Ison (8.4 points, 6.3 boards a contest) rank 11th and 13th in the conference, respectively, in rebounding, while Myli Martinez (9.9 points per game) is second in the CCAA with a 82.6 free throw percentage.
 
Cal Poly Pomona is 5-11 overall and sitting in ninth place in the CCAA with a 4-8 conference record. The Broncos come into Acker Gym not only trying to break a two-game losing streak, but to avenge their 67-63 loss to the Wildcats back on December 4 at Kellogg Arena.
 
Pomona has lost six of eight road decisions this season.
 
Cal Poly Pomona is in the middle of the conference pack offensively, averaging 65.3 points a game. The Broncos' defense, however, ranks dead last in the CCAA, giving up 69.3 points per contest.
 
Pomona relies heavily on 3-point shooting, as evidenced by the Broncos' 125 treys on the season—tops in the CCAA. The Broncos also rank fourth in the conference in team rebounding, averaging 41.6 boards a contest.
 
Senior guard Ally Bates leads the Broncos in scoring (11.8 points a game), 3-pointers (30), assists (2.9 a game), and is tied for the team lead in rebounding (5.4 boards a contest). Senior forward Monica Todd averages 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds a game.
A trio of guards, senior Jayda Villareal, sophomore Breanne Ha, and freshman Sydney Fedinec, have combined for 74 3-points and average over 23 points a game.
 
Chico State has won the last three head-to-head meetings with Cal Poly Pomona, but the Broncos still lead the all-time series with the Wildcats 30-27.
 
Cal State San Bernardino, which comes to Acker Gym Saturday following a Thursday road tilt against Stanislaus State, starts the week 6-12 on the season and in 11th place in the CCAA with a 3-9 conference record. Despite having lost five in a row, the 'Yotes have an opportunity to sweep the season series from Chico State—San Bernardino topped the Wildcats 62-59 December 2 at Coussoulis Arena.
 
Like Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State San Bernardino is 2-6 on the road this season.
 
The 'Yotes are averaging only 59.6 points a game on offense, ranking 11th in the CCAA. Defensively, San Bernardino ranks ninth in the conference, allowing 65.7 points a contest.
 
Destiny Jackson is the 'Yotes' leading scorer, and her 13.1 points per game average ranks 11th among CCAA players. Freshman center Mia Dufresne averages 8.7 points a contest, is second in the conference in blocked shots (22), and ninth in rebounds (6.7 boards a game). Freshman guard Samantha Henley (6.4 points a game) is San Bernardino's top 3-point shooter, with 24 treys on the season.
 
Cal State San Bernardino has won eight of the last 11 matchups against Chico State, but it's the Wildcats that hold a 28-19 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.