CARSON—After a last second win Thursday over Cal State East Bay, the Chico State women's basketball team had a chance to go a perfect 4-0 on its two-week road trip—but to do it, the Wildcats would have to beat nationally-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills on its home floor. In yet another dramatic game-ender, Myli Martinez hit a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left, and the Wildcats—which had squandered a 23-point third quarter lead—successfully knocked the No. 4 Toros from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday by a score of 73-72.
The Wildcats' biggest victory of the season extended Chico State's current winning streak to five straight, and raised the 'Cats' overall record to 14-6 overall and 10-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The 'Cats stayed tied with Cal State LA for third place in the conference standings.
CCAA-leading Cal State Dominguez Hills fell to 19-1 on the season and 13-1 in conference play.
Martinez connected for four 3-pointers to finish with a career-high 20 points, as well as posting four assists on the afternoon. Zhane Duckett added 11 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals to the 'Cats' attack, while Jordan Morris registered her second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Makenzi Laporte delivered 10 points and eight boards, and Haley Ison chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds as the Wildcats earned a split of the season series with Dominguez Hills.
The Wildcats got off to a tremendous start in the first quarter, torching the Toros from long distance. Martinez buried three 3-pointers and Duckett drained a pair of treys, giving Chico State an early 19-9 lead. Cal State Dominguez Hills answered with a 7-0 run, but a layup by Duckett as the period ended put the 'Cats up 21-16.
The second quarter began with the Wildcats ripping off a 12-4 run—highlighted by 3-pointers by Laporte and Bailey Jones and buckets by Duckett, Morris, and Jazmyne Lillie—to extend their advantage to 33-20. Four Toros free throws cut the deficit to nine, but Dominguez Hills could connect on only one field goal for the rest of the period. Meanwhile, the 'Cats tallied 10 unanswered points—Martinez and Ison hitting jumpers, and Duckett, Laporte, and Martinez converting from the free throw line—to go up by 19, and went into the locker room at halftime with a commanding 45-27 lead.
The 'Cats maintained the hot hand at the beginning of the third quarter, with Brandy Huffhines nailing a 3-pointer and draining a jumper, and Ison adding a layup to push Chico State's lead to 54-31. The Wildcats then suddenly went cold, hitting just two field goals in the final six minutes of the period. Dominguez Hills took full advantage, outscoring the 'Cats 17-4 to pull to within 58-48 heading into the fourth quarter.
An Ison layup and two free throws by Laporte helped Chico State maintain its 10-point advantage early in the fourth period, but the Toros kept chipping away, steadily closing the gap to 64-63 midway through the quarter. With 3:54 left, the Toros took a 65-64 lead, but two Huffhines free throws and a Morris jumper put the 'Cats back on top 68-67 with 2:50 remaining.
The lead see-sawed again—Dominguez Hills went back in front 69-68, but a jumper by Laporte gave the Wildcats a 70-69 advantage with 1:04 to go. Danyell Booker's layup and a Nala Williams free throw gave the Toros a 72-70 lead, leaving Chico State with 17 seconds to come up with a bucket to force overtime.
The 'Cats did one better, as Martinez connected on the biggest shot of her Chico State career—her 3-pointer from the left wing with less than two seconds left on the clock put the Wildcats in front for good. Following a timeout, Dominguez Hills was unable to get off a shot, giving Chico State the dramatic 73-72 victory.
Next week, Chico State returns home to Acker Gym for two more conference clashes. Thursday at 5:30 p.m. the Wildcats host the Seawolves of Sonoma State, then Saturday at 1 p.m. the 'Cats go head-to-head with Cal Poly Humboldt.
