LOS ANGELES—The Chico State women's basketball team's opportunity to extend its season-best five-game winning streak and strengthen its bid for a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament berth was soundly thwarted Thursday in Southern California, as the host Cal State LA Golden Eagles outscored the Wildcats 21-5 in the second quarter and never looked back, leading by no less than 14 for the remainder of the contest on the way to a 72-52 victory over the 'Cats at the Eagles' Nest.
Thursday's loss not only snapped Chico State's win streak, it dropped the Wildcats to 12-8 on the season and enabled Cal State LA to leapfrog the 'Cats into third place in the CCAA standings. With three games remaining in the regular season, Chico State now sits in fourth place with a 9-6 CCAA record; the six teams with the best conference winning percentage at the end of play February 26 will advance to the CCAA Tournament March 3–5 at Cal Poly Humboldt. Cal State LA improved to 11-11 overall and 10-6 in CCAA play with Thursday's win.
Chico State shot just 31 percent on the night and just 25 percent from 3-point range, and as a result no Wildcat player scored in double figures Thursday. Charity Gallegos led the 'Cats with nine points to go along with four assists, while Makenzi Laporte and Jordan Morris contributed seven points apiece. Myli Martinez and India Starr each tallied six points, with Haley Ison adding five points and pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.
In a fast-paced opening period, Cal State LA broke out to a 9-3 lead, only to see Chico State roar in front on the strength of an 11-2 run—two field goals and 3-pointer by Gallegos, a Morris layup, and a pair of free throws by Laporte put the Wildcats up 14-11. Martinez delivered two buckets later in the period, but that would be all the points the 'Cats could muster as the quarter concluded, with the Golden Eagles coming back to take a 19-18 lead.
Chico State missed its first six shots in the second quarter, and Cal State LA extended its advantage to 25-18 before Starr stopped the drought with a 3-pointer. The Golden Eagles proceeded to reel off a 15-2 run—a Laporte layup being the lone Wildcat score—and Cal State LA marched into halftime with a big 40-23 lead.
The Chico State offense picked up its productivity in the third quarter, but the 'Cats actually lost ground on the scoreboard. Bailey Jones opened the period with a 3-pointer, and despite baskets by Martinez, Gallegos, and Morris, Cal State LA methodically stretched its lead to 20. A late trey by Larporte and an Ison layup helped the Wildcats make up a bit of ground, but when the period ended, the Golden Eagles comfortably led by a score of 59-40.
An 8-0 Cal State LA run to start the fourth quarter effectively put the game out of reach, but Chico State refused to pack it in, battling to the very end. Starr hit her second 3-pointer of the night, Jazmyne Lillie delivered a trey and a pair of free throws, and Stella Rollo scored four points late in the contest, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep the Golden Eagles out of the winner's circle, as Cal State LA cruised to the 72-52 victory.
Chico State plays its final regular season road game Saturday afternoon when it takes on conference leader Cal State San Marcos (18-2, 16-1 CCAA), with tipoff slated at 1 p.m. The game will broadcast live locally on AM-1290 KPAY and available online. Fans can also follow on the Internet via Live Stats. Live video broadcasts of the games 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.
Links to streaming video, audio and live stats are available at
www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the women's basketball schedule page.
Fans planning to attend Saturday afternoon's contest will be required to wear masks at all times in The Sports Center, with capacity limited to the first 300 fans in attendance.
