Box Score CHICO, Calif. – The Pioneer women's basketball team gave CCAA leader Chico State Wildcats all they can handle in a 56-50 defeat on Saturday.

Trailing 37-28 with 12:11 in the second half, the Pioneers responded the following five minutes with an 11-4 run highlighted by a pair of Tori Breshers baskets. 

The Wildcats (10-2 CCAA, 14-2) increased their lead to 46-39 with 5:52 remaining, but the Pioneers battled back to cut the lead to four points at the 2:13 mark. Brianna Terrance hit a jumper with 1:58 remaining as the Pioneers closed the gap to 50-49.

Four free throws and a basket by Synchro Bull with 34 seconds left, gave the Wildcats the hard earned victory.

“Tough, tough loss, but we will grow from this,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “We never gave in to Chico's fast paced, pressure, physical game.” We battled back several times throughout the game.”

The Pioneers (4-7 CCAA, 6-9) fell behind 7-0 with 17:24 left in the first half. East Bay scored its first basket with 14:31 remaining on a Meaghan Cichoke layup.

After Chico State took a 12-4 lead, the Pioneers held the Wildcats scoreless on 0-of- 5 shooting from the field and, cut the deficit to six points on Terrance's jumper with 12:01 left. The Pioneers converted only 2-of- 15 shots from the field and trailed 17-7 at the 5:00 mark.

A three-point play by Nia Bravo and a Lauren Lucchesi jumper with 2:28 left, cut the Wildcats advantage to 19-14. The Pioneers played on even terms with the Wildcats the remaining 2:28 to trail 24-18 at halftime. 

The Pioneers shot 39.6 percent from the field compared to 39.1% for the Wildcats. East Bay enjoyed a 32-27 advantage on the boards. Chico State converted five three-pointers while East Bay was 0-of-2 from the arc.

Terrance led the Pioneers in scoring with 11 points. Bravo followed Terrance with a season-high nine points, while Breshers and Sarah Finlay had seven each. Breshers added a team-high five rebounds.

“Bri energized the team in the second half,” Barcomb said. “Nia gave our team a huge boost and got us back in the game in the first half.”

The Pioneers will begin the second half of CCAA action with a home game against Sonoma State on February 1.

“The first round of CCAA is over, we know the challenges in front of us and we won't look back at what could have been,” Barcomb said.  “Our focus is solely on 'us' and how do we reach our goals.”