With the Chico State women's basketball team in the upper tier of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings, the Wildcats are trying to make the most of a lengthy stretch playing in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The 'Cats will embark this week on the back end of a four-game home stand looking for a pair of wins when they take on conference foes Cal Poly Pomona Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Cal State San Bernardino Saturday at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow the action of both games locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessel'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 play 9-5 on the season and tied with Cal State LA for fourth place in the CCAA with a 5-3 conference record. The Wildcats, winners of eight of their last 11, split their two home games last week, dropping a 72-50 decision to No. 14 Cal State Dominguez Hills before bouncing back Saturday to beat Cal State East Bay 62-55.
The 'Cats are 6-3 when playing at Acker Gym this season.
Chico State ranks fifth among the 12 CCAA teams in both offense (averaging 66.3 points a game) and defense (giving up 60.1 points per contest). The Wildcats continue to lead the conference in 3-pointers with 107 and is the CCAA's top free throw shooting team, averaging 75.6 from the foul line. The 'Cats are also second in team assists (188).
Brandy Huffhines is the top Wildcats scorer, averaging 12.2 points a game, and leads the team with 25 3-pointers (tied for sixth in the CCAA). Haley Ison is averaging 10.4 points per game and is the 'Cats' leading rebounder, with her 7.3 boards per contest ranking eighth in the conference. Myli Martinez (9.6 ppg, 24 3-pointers) and Zhane Duckett (9.1 ppg) are Chico State's other offensive threats, with Duckett's 46 assists ranking fourth in the CCAA.
Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State's Thursday night opponent, is 9-3 on the season and in third place in the CCAA with a 6-2 conference mark. The Broncos, ranked No. 7 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Media Poll, split a pair of tough home games last week, bowing to Cal State LA 67-56 Thursday before upsetting nationally-ranked Cal State San Marcos 68-65 on Saturday.
Pomona has played extremely well on the road this season, sporting a perfect 6-0 record away from its home floor, Kellogg Arena.
Cal Poly Pomona's team stats are almost identical to the Wildcats, with the Broncos averaging 66.3 points a game while surrendering 60.3 points a contest.
Pomona boasts a trio of double-digit scorers, with senior guard Ally Bates leading the Broncos with a 14.3 points per game average (seventh in the CCAA), while her team-high 30 3-pointers ranks fourth among conference players. Junior forward/center Donja Payne and junior guard Alicia Jones average over 24 points a contest, with Payne pulling down 12.1 rebounds a contest.
Chico State won both meetings with Pomona last season, but the Broncos hold a slim 30-28 lead over the Wildcats in the all-time series between the two teams.
Cal State San Bernardino, who take on the Wildcats Saturday following a Thursday tilt in Turlock against Stanislaus State, is 7-7 entering the week but sitting in 10th place in the CCAA standings with a 2-6 conference record. The 'Yotes have lost three straight and five of their last six, including a pair of setbacks last week at the hands of Cal State San Marcos (63-55) and Cal State LA (63-50).
San Bernardino begins the week with a 2-2 road record on the season.
As a team, San Bernardino scores an average of 62 points a game, but has given up 63.9 points per contest on the defensive end.
Junior guard Destiny Jackson is the 'Yotes top scorer, averaging 11.9 points a game while leading the team with 16 3-pointers on the season. Sophomore guard Jaida Jackson contributes 8.6 points per contest, with sophomore forward Mia Dufresne (7.6 ppg) serving as San Bernardino's leading rebounder (5.5 boards a contest).
Chico State and San Bernardino split their two meetings during the 2021–22 season. In the all-time series, the Wildcats hold a 29-19 advantage over the 'Yotes.
