CHICO – One month after Cal State Dominguez Hills edged the Chico State women's basketball team in Carson, the Wildcats returned the favor and used their home court to knock out the defending NCAA West Region and CCAA champions 78-67 at Acker Gym Thursday evening.
 
The 'Cats, having won eight of their last nine games, improve to 19-7 overall while going 15-5 in the CCAA. More importantly, the win keeps Chico State in sole possession of second place after third-place Cal Poly Pomona took the win at home against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Wildcats hold a one game lead over the Broncos with two games to play. A Chico State win in any of those games will lock up a bye into the semifinal round of the CCAA Tournament.
 
Chico State will get its first crack at the goal Saturday against Cal State LA. Prior to the 5:30 p.m. tipoff, the Wildcats will celebrate seniors Zhane Duckett, Brandy Huffhines, Jazmyne Lillie, Morgan Mathis and Stella Rollo. The ceremony will begin at 5:15 p.m.
 
Huffhines continues to lead the Wildcats in the scoring column for the third straight game, dropping 19 points along with nine rebounds and six assists. Duckett was not that far behind her with 14 points and five assists. Off the bench, Jadence Clifton had a dozen points and Ashleigh Barr had 10.
 
Collectively the 'Cats ended up shooting 46.4 percent (32-for-69) from the field compared to the Toros' 38 percent (27-for-71).
 
For Dominguez Hills (13-13, 10-10 CCAA), it was Kylee Edgar who led the effort with 21 points. Asia Jordan had 14 points along with five rebounds.
 
The opening quarter was a bit tight with the Toros putting pressure on the Wildcats' offense. With the game tied at 15, the 'Cats got on a 13-2 run in 2:30 to take a 28-17 lead early into the second quarter. Clifton had eight points during that stretch.
 
Chico State would maintain a double-digit lead all the way up until halftime, which it went into the locker room up 49-35.
 
The Wildcats had led by as many as 21 points late into the third quarter.