HAYWARD, Calif. - On Saturday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium, Cal State East Bay women's basketball dropped a home game to Chico State, 69-55. 
 

GAME SUMMARY

The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game, but the Pioneers answered with a 6-0 run, capped by a Jaela Richardson layup, to lead 8-7 with 3:36 left in the first quarter. Chico State then scored nine unanswred points for a 16-8 lead and ultimately finish the opening quarter ahead 16-10. 

The Pioneers would come as close as three points in the second quarter, trailing 18-15, on a Peyton Sterk three-pointer at the 9:14 mark. The Wildcats pulled away in the second quarter to lead 35-20 at the halftime break. 

Chico State gained largest lead of the ballgame at 20, ahead 51-31, to ultimately ende up ahead 51-34 going into the final quarter. 

The Pioneers would start the quarter on a 15-5 run looking to climb back into the game, as Taylor Linzie made a layup with 4:01 left, to trim the Wildcats' lead to seven at 56-49. The Pioneers would come no closer as the Wildcats won 69-55.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Sterk had a game-high 25 points for the Pioneers, going 8-for-26 from the floor with five baskets from beyond the arc as well as 4-for-4 from the free throw line. With 42 3-pointers, Sterk leads the conference in total baskets from beyond the arc and in average per game at 3.2. 
• Linzie had a team-high 13 rebounds for CSUEB. 
• With two steals each were Linzie, Lailah Carey and Camryn Washington. 
• Duckett scored 19 points for the Wildcats.
• The Pioneers shot 31.4 percent from the field, and the Wildcats shot 41.4 percent from the field.
• Cal State East Bay outrebounded Chico State 45-43 on Saturday. 

POSTGAME QUOTE

Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Saturday's loss to Chico State: 
"It was a disappointing ending to what could have been a great weekend for us. Our slow start and lack of energy affected us for three quarters. We turned it on in the fourth but by then it was too late."
 

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 5-8, 3-4 CCAA
Chico State: 9-4, 5-2 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers continue their homestand next Thursday, January 11 when they host Cal State LA. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from Pioneer Gymnasium.