Box Score
Box score

CHICO, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay women's basketball team fell to Chico State, 74-47, on Saturday night at Acker Gym. The Pioneers (0-12, 0-8 CCAA) got into an early hole and could not comeback against a Wildcat team that shot 55 percent from long range and knocked down 11 threes.

“Too many unforced turnovers doomed us from the very beginning,” CSUEB Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “We did not defend Chico's three-ball shooters and gave up 33 points from outside.”

Lauren Lucchesi and Maria Dinesen led the Pioneers, notching 14 and 10 points, respectively. Marlene MacMillan again led East Bay on the boards, pulling down seven rebounds in helping the Pioneers out-rebound the Wildcats 34-31 and match them with 13 second-chance points on 13 offensive boards. East Bay committed 24 turnovers, giving up 34 points off of those miscues.

“Maria had a solid game and Lauren played more aggressive in the second half,” Barcomb said. “Marlene was in foul trouble in the first half but boarded really well in the second half.”

Three Wildcats hit double figures in scoring, led by Pauline Ferrall and Courtney Harrison, who scored 12 points apiece. Taylor Lydon joined Ferrall and Harrison with 11 points and shared the rebounding lead with Harrison, each pulling down five boards. Chico State shot 49.2 percent from the field hitting 11 of their 20 shots from beyond the arc.

Chico State got out to a fast start, building an 18-point lead, 25-7, with 8:36 remaining in the first half. The Wildcats hit five threes and held the Pioneers to just three field goals during that span. East Bay answered with a 10-3 run that pulled them back within 11 points, 28-17, with 3:57 left in the half. The run saw Brianna Terrance score six of her eight points while pulling down four rebounds. The Wildcats regained control, however, outscoring the Pioneers 8-1 over the last four minutes to take a 36-18 lead into the half.

Cal State East Bay opened the second half with a pair of threes from Lucchesi and a bucket from Amaris Sanders to cut the Wildcat lead to just 13, 39-26. Chico State stormed back, building a 20-point lead at the 11:44 mark and never trailing by fewer than 22 points from that point and hitting another pair of threes.

The Pioneers return to action next weekend, when they kick off a four-game homestand with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA. East Bay will play host to the Toros on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. at Pioneer Gym.