In something of a reverse trend, the Chico State women's basketball team is playing as well—and perhaps better—on the road in 2022-23 they it has in the friendly confines of Acker Gym. The Wildcats have won five of seven contests in foreign gyms so far this season, and this week Brian Fogel's squad will face two more big road challenges, as the 'Cats face Cal State East Bay Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) leader Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday at 1 p.m.
Fans can follow the action of both games locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca'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.
The Wildcats have won their last three games and four of the last five to fashion an overall record of 12-6 on the season. Chico State has also worked its way up the CCAA standings, and begin the week tied with Cal State LA for fourth place with an 8-4 conference mark. The 'Cats scored a pair of double-digit victories last week, handing Cal State Monterey Bay an 82-46 defeat on Thursday and followed up with a 74-59 win Saturday over San Francisco State.
The final two contests of the Wildcats' four-game road swing marks the second time this season Chico State has faced East Bay and Dominguez Hills. Earlier this month at Acker Gym, the 'Cats bested the Pioneers 62-55, but fell to the undefeated Toros 72-50.
Chico State's offense is currently third among the 12 CCAA teams, averaging 67.4 points a game. The Wildcats' defense is just as impressive, ranking fourth in the conference by allowing just 59.5 points a contest. The 'Cats top the CCAA with 135 3-pointers, and are second in the conference in free throw percentage, hitting nearly 77 percent of their foul shots.
Brandy Huffhines remains the Wildcats' leading scorer, averaging 11.7 points a game, and her team-high 31 3-pointers are the seventh-most among all CCAA players. Myli Martinez is averaging 10.1 points a game and is ninth in the conference with 29 treys, while Haley Ison (9.6 ppg) ranks ninth in the CCAA in rebounding (6.9 boards a contest). Zhane Duckett (9.6 ppg) is tied for third in the conference in assists (62) and is seventh in steals (31).
Cal State East Bay, which host the 'Cats Thursday night, is 8-8 on the season and is tied for seventh place in the CCAA with a 5-7 conference record. The Pioneers return home after a tough road trip last week, losing to No. 21 Cal State San Marcos 72-62 and Cal State LA 80-59.
East Bay's offense and defense both rank sixth in the CCAA—the Pioneers score an average of 63.7 points a game while giving up 63.1 points a contest. East Bay doesn't shoot a lot of 3-pointers, hitting 83 treys in its 16 games this season, but is one of the conference's top rebounding teams, averaging 43.5 boards a game.
Senior guards Grace Campbell and Delia Moore are the Pioneers' top two offensive threats. The duo has combined to hit 37 3-pointers, with Campbell averaging a team-high 12.4 points a game and Moore contributing 11.8 points a contest. Junior forward Jaela Richardson adds 11.7 points a game to the East Bay attack, while freshman guard Payton Stark (9.3 ppg) leads the Pioneers with 30 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Taylor Linzie (4.9 ppg) ranks seventh in the CCAA in rebounding, hauling in 7.3 boards a contest.
Chico State's win over East Bay back on January 7 snapped the Pioneers' four-game win streak over the Wildcats, while extending the 'Cats lead in the all-time series to 57-25.
Cal State Dominguez Hills, which faces the Wildcats Saturday after a Thursday night tilt against Humboldt State, is currently No. 6 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II national rankings as the Toros attempt to maintain an unblemished season record. Dominguez Hills is 18-0 overall, and sitting atop the CCAA standings with a 12-0 conference mark. The Toros won a pair on the road last week, easily dispatching of Cal State LA 76-59 Thursday before winning a squeaker Saturday 74-73 over Cal State San Marcos.
Statistically, Dominguez Hills tops all CCAA teams on both sides of the ball, scoring at a conference-leading 78.5 points-per-game clip, while holding opponents to just 58.2 points a contest. The Toros are also No. 1 in the CCAA in team rebounding, grabbing 45 boards a game.
Dominguez Hills boasts three double-digit scorers in its starting lineup. Senior guard Dawnyel Lair ranks fourth in the CCAA, averaging 15.2 points a game and is third in the conference in rebounding with 8.5 boards a contest. Sophomore forward Asia Jordan is in the CCAA top 10 in both scoring (ninth, 13.7 ppg) and rebounding (eighth, 7.0 a contest). Freshman guard Nala Williams (11.9 ppg) is the Toros' top 3-point shooter, with 26 treys on the season.
Though Dominguez Hills won the first meeting of the season with the Wildcats, Chico State holds a 43-20 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.
