CHICO, Calif. - In a crucial women's basketball game that has NCAA postseason implications, Chico State had another fourth-quarter surge to beat Sonoma State 81-68 in Acker Gym on Champions in Unity Night on Thursday.
With the win, along with Cal Poly Pomona beating Stanislaus State in Turlock tonight, the Wildcats (22-6, 17-5 CCAA) locked up the third seed for the upcoming CCAA Championships. They will play the No. 6 seed which is still being determined between Cal State LA and Sonoma State (14-13) since both have 12-9 conference records. The Golden Eagles will play San Francisco State and the Seawolves head to Cal Poly Humboldt on Saturday.
The win also keeps Chico State in good standing with the NCAA Championship committee after being left off the 'under consideration' list last week. The Wildcats entered this weekend ranked eighth in the West Region following the first announcement of the official poll Wednesday. The committee will take the top eight teams into the West Regional tournament in two weeks.
Tonight's game saw a solid performance by Jordan Allred, who led the Wildcats with 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, becoming a major contributor to the victory. Meadow Aragon matched Allred's scoring with 19 points, helping Chico State to outpace their opponents especially in the second half. Makenzi Laporte also made significant contributions with strategic defensive plays, setting the tone for the Wildcats.
The game commenced with Sonoma State taking an early lead, ending the first period ahead 22-20. Much like their last meeting in Rohnert Park, the Wildcats battled through the Seawolves' offense and kept within striking distance. By halftime, Chico trailed slightly at 35-38, but regained control in the third quarter with both teams exchanging leads frequently.
During the final quarter, Chico State surged ahead, bolstered by key performances and strong defensive holds, finishing the game 81-68. The significant gap in the final score highlights the effective offensive strategies and firm defensive efforts by Chico State, ensuring their dominance as the game concluded.
With this win and Cal Poly Pomona's victory over Stanislaus State, Chico State secured its spot in the CCAA Championships set to be held at Cal State San Marcos. The upcoming tournament, starting next week, will see the Wildcats facing the sixth seed, a position yet to be finalized between Cal State LA and Sonoma State.
The regular season will conclude Saturday as Chico State welcomes Cal State San Marcos. Prior to the 1 p.m. tipoff, the Wildcats will celebrate the senior class of Jordan Allred, Meadow Aragon, Ashleigh Barr, Jadence Clifton, Makenzi Laporte and Ciarah Michalik.
The Cougars head to Chico having edged Cal Poly Humboldt 57-55 tonight. In their last meeting in January, San Marcos gave Chico a bit of a scare, but the Wildcats came through and beat the Cougars 75-61 at The Sports Center.
