Saturday night marked the final time Chico State women's basketball seniors Jordan Morris, Bailey Jones, Haley Ison, and Myli Martinez would play in front of the home crowd at Acker Gym. After being honored in a special pregame ceremony, the quartet of senior 'Cats—assisted by the team's talented group of undergrads—made an emotional evening even more memorable by grinding out a 56-49 win over Cal State Monterey Bay.
The victory moved Chico State to 18-8 on the season and back into a tie for third place in the California Collegiate Athetic Association (CCAA) with a 14-6 conference record. Cal State Monterey Bay fell to 6-19 overall and 2-18 in CCAA play.
Zhane Duckett was her usual productive self Saturday, leading the Wildcats with 15 points while pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out three assists. Ison scored 12 points and grabbed 10 boards, posting her ninth career double-double and second in as many games. Makenzi Laporte added 11 points and eight rebounds for the 'Cats, which finishes their 2022–23 home schedule with an 11-4 record in the friendly confines of Acker Gym.
The first quarter of Saturday's Senior Night contest saw both the Wildcats and Otters struggling offensively. Monterey Bay held a 10-9 lead when a Jones 3-pointer and two Laporte free throws gave Chico State a 14-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The 'Cats' defense was even more effective in the second period, holding the Otters to just seven points. Chico State didn't exactly light up the scoreboard either, but a 9-2 run over the final three minutes—highlighted by 3-pointers by Ison, Duckett, and Laporte—put the Wildcats up 25-17 at halftime.
Thanks to another Ison 3-pointer and baskets by Jones and Brandy Huffhines, Chico State extended its advantage to 13 points two minutes into the third quarter. Monterey Bay refused to go away, though, chipping away at the deficit and scoring eight of the last 10 points of the period to close to within 41-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Otters still only trailed by four midway through the fourth, but the Wildcats slowly began to pull away on the strength of buckets by Laporte, Martinez, and Duckett, and with 1:21 to play Chico State led 55-44. Monterey Bay was able to shave the deficit to single digits, put it wasn't nearly enough to keep the Wildcats from cruising to the 56-49 victory.
Chico State, which is already assured of a spot in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, wraps up regular season play on the road next week, when the Wildcats travel down to Southern California to take on Cal State San Bernardino Thursday night and Cal Poly Pomona Saturday afternoon.
