With COVID cancelations resulting in just two games during the first three weeks of January, the Chico State women's basketball team found it extremely difficult to establish its on-court identity, and at one point the Wildcats found themselves in 10th place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Now that they're playing on a consistent basis, the 'Cats have turned things around in dramatic fashion, winning three straight and five of their last six to vault into third place in the conference standings. Chico State looks to continue its winning ways this week, hosting Cal State Monterey Bay Thursday and San Francisco State on Saturday. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.
 
Fans planning on attending the games will be once again asked to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter Acker Gym. Admission will be capped at 750 fans, and the University's indoor mask requirement remains in effect.  
 
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 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.
 
Both games will be broadcast locally and online on AM-1290 KPAY, and fans can keep up with the action 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.
 
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.
 
There's a lot at stake for Chico State, which enters the week with a 10-7 season record and a 7-5 conference mark. With six games remaining, the Wildcats are just a half-game ahead of fourth place Stanislaus State (6-5), fifth place Cal State Dominguez Hills (7-6), and sixth place Cal State LA (7-6), while Cal Poly Humboldt (6-7) and Sonoma State (6-7) are also within striking distance. The teams that finish the regular season with the six highest conference winning percentages will earns berths in March's CCAA Tournament in Arcata, with the winner of the three-day event automatically advancing to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
 
The 'Cats, sporting a 5-2 home record, have a chance to sweep two season series this week. The first time Chico State and Cal State Monterey Bay met, the Wildcats downed the Otters 63-49 January 22 in Seaside. The 'Cats were 63-58 road winners over San Francisco State on January 20.
 
The 'Cats extended their current winning streak last week with victories over Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, scoring over 70 points in each contest. Chico State begins play ranked third among the 12 CCAA teams in scoring, averaging 68.3 points per game. Defensively, the Wildcats are fifth in the conference, allowing 63.8 points a contest.
 
The 'Cats lead the CCAA in 3-point field goals (148), and are second in free throw shooting percentage (74.5 percent).
 
Individually, Charity Gallegos leads the CCAA in assists, averaging 5.5 a game. The true freshman is also sixth in the conference in steals (2.2 a contest) and 14th in scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game.
 
Bailey Jones, averaging 10.2 points a game, is fifth among CCAA players with 39 3-pointers on the season, while Wildcat teammate Morgan Mathis (7.9 points per game) ranks ninth with 33 treys. Myli Martinez (9.6 points a game) is second in the CCAA in free throw percentage (82.0 percent).
 
Cal State Monterey Bay is 2-14 overall and sits in last place in the CCAA with a 1-11 conference mark. The Otters come to Chico on the heels of snapping an 11-game losing streak, beating Sonoma State 62-53 last Saturday in Seaside.
 
The Otters have lost eight of nine road decisions this season.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay is averaging 51.8 points a game as a team (last in the CCAA), while surrendering 65.8 points a contest (11th in the conference).
 
Senior guard Lauryn Pointer is among the top scorers in the conference, averaging 15.5 points a game, and leads the Otters with 22 3-pointers. Freshmen guards Emily Perez and Frances Potts have combined to hit 24 treys and average over 18 points a contest, while freshman forward Sarah Shaw (6.5 points per game) is Monterey Bay's leading rebounder, hauling in 6.3 boards a contest.
 
Chico State holds a 26-6 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams. The Wildcats have won the last 13 meetings and have not lost to the Otters at Acker Gym since January 25, 2013.
 
San Francisco State, which comes to Chico Saturday following a Thursday night tilt in Turlock against Stanislaus State, begins the week 7-12 overall and in 10th place in the CCAA with a 5-10 conference record. The Gators had lost five of six before handing Cal Poly Humboldt a 54-53 defeat last Saturday.
 
San Francisco State, with former Chico State great Natasha Smith in her fourth year as head coach, is 2-6 this season away from its home court, The Swamp.
 
The Gators rank ninth in the CCAA in team scoring, averaging 60.1 points a game, and 10th on the defensive end, allowing 65.2 points per contest.
 
San Francisco State is led by freshman guard Mya Blake, averaging 11.8 points a game with 21 3-pointers on the season. Freshman guard Alexsandra Alvarado and senior guard Ashley Hart average 9.5 and 9.3 points per game, respectively, while sophomore forward Muirae Gomez contributes 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a contest. Sophomore forward Jolene Armendariz (8.9 points, 6.3 rebounds a game) is the Gators' top 3-point shooter, ranking seventh in the CCAA with 36 treys in 2021–22.
 
Chico State has won nine of the last 10 meetings with San Francisco State and leads the all-time series with the Gators 79-24.