As California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference action starts to wind down, the Chico State women's basketball team is easily playing its best ball of the season—and the Wildcats are proving to be extremely tough to beat on their home floor. The Wildcats are now 3-0 on their current four game homestand, and thanks to 11 3-pointers and a defense that held Cal State Monterey Bay to just eight points over a 22-minute stretch, Chico State rolled over the Otters 76-53 Thursday night at Acker Gym.
 
With this latest victory, The 'Cats extend their season-high winning streak to four straight to improve to 11-7 overall. Chico State, which is now 6-2 at home this season, also raised its record to 8-5 in CCAA play, maintaining sole possession of third place in the conference standings. Cal State Monterey Bay dropped to 2-15 on the season and 1-12 in the CCAA.
 
Makenzi Laporte led all scorers with a career-high 16 points, shooting 6-for-8 from the field. Morgan Mathis buried four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points, and Myli Martinez drained a trio of treys on the way to a 11 point, seven rebound night. Despite playing just 23 minutes, Charity Gallegos contributed eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while India Starr came off the bench to score eight points, six of which came courtesy of a pair of 3-pointers. Jordan Morris led the 'Cats with nine rebounds.
 
The Wildcats outrebounded Monterey Bay 44-36, and forced 15 Otters turnovers.
 
The game was far from a one-sided affair in the first quarter. A 3-pointer by Martinez and baskets by Morris ad Haley Ison carried Chico State to an early 9-4 lead, but an 11-4 Monterey Bay run put the Otters on top 15-13. Mathis put the Wildcats briefly back in front with a 3-pointer, and following a Monterey Bay basket with 1:05 remaining in the period, Laporte converted a layup as the quarter ended, knotting up the contest 18-18.
 
The second period belonged to Chico State, thanks in large part to its defense, as the Otters misfired on 12 of their 13 shots in the period. The 'Cats, meanwhile, took control of the contest with a 16-0 run—Mathis, Martinez, and Bailey Jones all connected on 3-pointers, and Ison and Laporte hit buckets from inside the arc to make the score 34-18. After Monterey Bay finally got a shot to fall, Ison dropped in a fast break layup as the quarter ended, giving Chico State a 36-20 halftime lead.
 
The Wildcats defense continued to suffocate the Otters in the third quarter, holding Monterey Bay to just three field goals in the period. Gallegos sparked the 'Cats offense early with a layup, a three-point play, and a 3-pointer in a little more than a minute, then on the strength of another Mathis 3-pointer and baskets by Martinez, Laporte, Starr, and Stella Rollo, Chico State closed out the period on a 15-0 to balloon its lead to 59-26.
 
The 'Cats pushed their advantage to 35 in the fourth quarter, as a 3-pointer by Starr and buckets by Laporte and Jazmyne Lillie made the score 66-31. Monterey Bay finally broke through in the final seven minutes of period, outscoring the Wildcats 22-10, but by then it was far too little and far too late, as Chico State cruised to the 76-53 and a sweep of the season series.  
 
Chico State will close out the long home stand Saturday, when the Wildcats host the Gators of San Francisco State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. A maximum of 750 fans will be admitted in Acker Gym; proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required.
 
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).
 
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.