January 14, 2006
Box Score
Carson, CA – Tameka Blue (Watsonville, CA/Santa Cruz HS) would record her 11th double-digit scoring game of the season and lead CSUDH with 18 points, but the visiting Wildcats posted four players in double figures to record a 75-52 win. With the loss, CSUDH drops to 7-5, 2-4 CCAA, while Chico State improves to 11-2, 5-1 CCAA.
The Toros would jump out quickly against the reigning CCAA champions, with Blue and Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS) both hitting three-point shots on consecutive possessions to take an early 6-0 lead.
Chico would not let the quick strikes by the Toros phase them, as they quickly tied the game at 6-6 on a pair of free throws by Jennifer Borror with 16:51 on the clock. The Wildcats would then take their first lead of the game after Amber Simmons hit two free throws, and from there they would build and maintain a small lead thanks to baskets by Borror and Simmons.
The Toros stepped up the challenge and regained the lead at 15-14 after a baseline jumper by Michelle Kribell (Buena Park, CA/Western HS) with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Liang would begin to heat up from the outside for the second night in a row, hitting two three-point shots over the next two minutes. Kribell would follow with another jumper and Ennisha Kyles (Los Angeles, CA/Mast HS) capped the run with a free throw to extend the Toro lead to 24-16 with 5:06 remaining.
The Wildcats would answer the surge by the Toros, and over the last five minutes of the half, Chico State would use a 15-6 run, highlighted by six points each by Simmons and Lauren Himmelspach, to edge the Toros and go into the locker room with a 31-30 advantage.
In the first half the Toros would outshoot the Wildcats, 46.2% to 34.4%, however, Chico would use a 13 to five offensive rebounding advantage to get many second chance points and take six more field goal attempts.
Although both teams physically came out of the locker room for the second half, it seemed as though CSUDH was not on the floor. Chico would open the half on a 17-5 run over the first five minutes to take a 13-point lead. The Toros would cut the lead to 10 with 12:24 left after a pair of free throws by Ree Browne (Torrance, CA/South Torrance HS) and a jumper Brittney Blankenship (Palmdale, CA/Palmdale HS). However, that was as close as the Toros would get the rest of the game. Chico State would pile on the points over the remaining time left in the game, ending the game on a 27-14 run.
Chico was led by Simmons' double-double, garnering game-high scoring and rebounding honors with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Borror would record a double-double of her own with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Audriana Spencer and Ford would round out the Wildcats in double figures with 17 and 12 points, respectively.
For CSUDH, Liang would add nine points, including three for five from beyond the arc. Blankenship would also chip in eight points and four rebounds in loss. Aujanee Baldwin (Fontana, CA/Etiwanda HS) would come off the bench and contribute six points and two steals.
The Toros will hit the road next week as they travel to UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino, before returning home on January 25th to take on Cal Poly Pomona.
