BOX SCORE

CHICO, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team continued its run of championship caliber defense, suffocating No. 9 Chico State to earn a 51-44 win Friday night in Acker Gym.

CSUMB improved to 10-3 overall and 7-3 in the CCAA, climbing to within one game of first place in the loss column. Chico State, which saw its eight-game home winning streak snapped, fell to 13-2 and 9-2.

“That was an incredible game between two very tough teams,” said CSUMB Head Coach Renee Jimenez. “We just continue to learn how to grind games out and out-execute our opponents down the stretch. Once again our defense was unbelievable and our bigs really stepped up and took away Chico's inside game.”

The Otters continued to struggle shooting the ball, making just 2-of-13 from the field to open the game and just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc for the game. But the CSUMB defense more than compensated, holding its fourth consecutive opponent to less than 50 points. The Otters also improved on their NCAA-leading three-point field goal defense by holding Chico State to 3-of-15 shooting from long range.

Chico looked primed to keep its home record spotless, taking advantage of CSUMB's early shooting woes to open a 15-5 lead less than nine minutes into the game. The Wildcats still led by 10 at 24-14 inside the seven-minute mark.

That's when the Otter defense began to assert itself.

CSUMB held Chico to just two points over the final 3:37 of the first half then held the Wildcats scoreless over the first 4:47 of send half as a 26-20 Wildcat lead became a 35-28 Otter advantage.

Putting away a team of Chico's caliber on the road proved to be no easy task, however, and the Wildcats used a 14-5 run of their own to retake the lead, 42-40, with less than for minutes remaining.

But that was Chico's final hurrah.

Free throws by Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) and Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Antelope Valley JC) on CSUMB's next two possessions put the Otters back in front.

Jefferson cleaned up a missed three-pointer by Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) on the next Otter trip downcourt followed by consecutive layups from Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) and Fontenette to stifle any hopes of a Chico comeback.

“We are just hitting our stride,” Jimenez added. “If we hadn't had lost three early games, I don't know if we would be appreciating the opportunities that are in front of us.”

Jefferson finished the night by leading both teams with 14 points and eight rebounds. Fontenette added 10 points and a game-high four steals.

Synchro Bull came off the bench to lead Chico State with 12 points.

CSUMB will look to push its winning streak to a season-high five games when it finishes its two-game roadtrip at Cal State Stanislaus Saturday night. The Otters return home to host San Francisco State Feb. 1 in The Kelp Bed.