It took 30 minutes for the offense to finally kick in for the Chico State women's basketball team during its Saturday afternoon clash with Cal State East Bay—but when the shots started falling in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were not to be denied a victory. The 'Cats hit seven of 12 shots in the final period, outscoring the Pioneers 22-10 and erasing a nine-point deficit to treat the Acker Gym faithful to an exciting come-from-behind 62-55 win.
Saturday's win moved Chico State to 9-5 on the season, and helped the Wildcats maintain their share of fourth place in the CCAA with a 5-3 conference record. Cal State East Bay dipped to 6-6 overall and 3-5 in CCAA play.
Zhane Duckett led the Chico State charge with 15 points—her best single-game effort as a Wildcat—and contributed seven rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Brandy Huffhines came through with 14 points on the afternoon, while Jordan Morris added 10 points to the 'Cats' attack. Myli Martinez and Haley Ison combined for 17 points, with Ison pulling down seven rebounds.
Chico State got off to a fast start, grabbing an early 13-8 lead on the strength of a Huffhines 3-pointer, four Duckett free throws, and baskets by Huffhines, Duckett, and Morris. The Wildcats maintained their advantage courtesy of an Ison jumper and a trey by Martinez, ending the period with an 18-14 lead.
Neither team displayed much offense in the second quarter, with Chico State and Cal State East Bay combining for just 19 points. The Wildcats stayed on top, and led by as many six thanks to a Morgan Mathis 3-pointer and buckets by Ison and Martinez. The Pioneers whittled the deficit to three before halftime, and the 'Cats had to be content with a 27-24 lead at intermission.
The East Bay offense was firing on all cylinders in the third quarter. The Pioneers hit eight of 15 shots from the field, erasing a five-point Chico State lead by putting together an 18-6 run to jump on top 42-35. The 'Cats fought back to within a deuce, but a late 3-pointer by East Bay gave the Pioneers a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
East Bay registered the first two buckets of the final period, but the Wildcats defense proceeded to hold the Pioneers to just six points the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Duckett put the 'Cats on her back, delivering a pair of field goals and a three-point play, and combined with a pair of baskets by Huffhines, Chico State pulled even 51-51 with 3:42 to play. East Bay briefly regained the lead with a bucket at the two-minute mark, but Chico State answered with a basket by Morris and a Huffhines 3-pointer to put the Wildcats in front 56-53 with 1:09 left. The Pioneers clawed back to within one, but two free throws apiece by Mathis, Huffhines, and Duckett down the stretch proved to be the back-breaker, as the 'Cats ran out the clock to hand East Bay a 62-55 defeat.
Chico State returns to Acker Gym next week for a pair of important conference matchups. Thursday at 5:30 p.m., the Wildcats take on Cal Poly Pomona (9-3, 6-2 CCAA), then on Saturday at 1 p.m. host Cal State San Bernardino (7-7, 2-6 CCAA).
