SEASIDE, Calif. — In an epic game spoiled only (for Otter fans) by the final score, No. 15 Chico State rallied late then caught fire in overtime to hand Cal State Monterey Bay an 84–75 setback in the regular season finale for both teams Friday night in The Kelp Bed.
The loss didn't affect the CCAA Tournament position for CSUMB (18–7, 15–7 CCAA), which had already locked up third place and a home date with Cal Poly Pomona. Chico State (22–4, 18–4), however, became the surprise No. 1 seed and CCAA champion thanks to San Francisco State's shocking 53–50 victory over defending league champion UC San Diego Friday night in La Jolla.
Holly Holcomb (Ventura/Buena HS) and
Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB) led five Otters in double figures with 14 points apiece. Corgel added a game–high five assists while Holcomb pulled down a game–high seven rebounds.
Hannah Womack came off the bench to lead Chico with 23 points. Courtney Hamilton went a perfect 8–for–8 from the free–throw line and chipped in 18 points of her own.
Neither CSUMB nor Chico could gain much of a foothold in regulation. The Wildcats held brief leads in regulation, but never by more than two points. The Otters, meanwhile, led by as many as nine points and still led by six at 55–49 inside of five minutes to play when Chico caught fire.
A Monnie Davidson–Mays three–pointer and a pair of Synchro Bull free throws brought Chico from behind and gave the Wildcats the lead at 64–62 with 31 seconds to play. But senior
Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) answered in a big way, knocking down a running jumper in the lane with fours seconds left to force overtime.
Chico scored the first five points in overtime and made its first five from the floor in the extra period to thwart any chance at an Otter comeback. After
Nikki Beckman (Dublin/Ohlone College) and Jazmine Miller traded threes, the Wildcat lead stayed between four and seven points until a pair of superfluous Womack free throws with two seconds remaining accounted for the final margin.
CSUMB returns to action in defense of its 2012 CCAA Tournament title Tuesday, Mar. 5 by hosting Cal Poly Pomona in The Kelp Bed. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Chico State will play San Francisco State Tuesday in Chico.
