CHICO, Calif. -- JoNae Gonzalez narrowly missed her potential game-winning three-point attempt for the Sonoma State women's basketball team at regulation's end, allowing host Chico State to ride its momentum into the overtime period and knock off the visiting Seawolves, 63-56, on Saturday night at Acker Gymnasium in Chico.
Sonoma drops its fourth consecutive game, moving to 6-8 overall and 4-6 in the CCAA. The Wildcats improved to 6-8 and 3-7 in conference play.
With the exception of 16 seconds late in the first half, the Seawolves held a lead until midway through the second period when the Wildcats went on an 11-0 run to take a 40-36 lead with 7:44 to play. Sonoma State responded with a 7-0 run of its own to retake a three-point lead at 43-40 with 5:16 on the clock. Both teams traded points on several ensuing possessions, but Chico State's Hannah Womack knotted the score at 49-all with 52 seconds remaining.
Neither team could put the ball in the basket in the waning moments, including Gonzalez's missed three-pointer at the buzzer that banged around the cylinder several times before popping out, forcing the extra five minutes.
Chico State took over from there, scoring the first seven points of OT en route to a 9-2 run and a comfortable 56-49 lead with three minutes to play. Sonoma State got to within four points at 60-56 with 52 ticks left, but Womack sealed the Wildcats' victory with three free throws down the stretch to finish the comeback win for Chico.
Hannah Sourek led SSU in scoring with 17 points, adding nine rebounds while
Tanner Adams went for 15 points. Gonzalez and
Madison Burroughs chipped in with eight points apiece. The Seawolves connected on 33.3 percent of their shots (21 of 63) while holding the Wildcats to 32.4 percent (22 of 68).
Chico State's Whitney Branham led all players with 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting, including 5 of 7 from downtown, complemented by Womack with 14 and Brooke Bowen with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds).
Sonoma State returns home for a brief two-game homestand to wrap up the first half of the CCAA schedule next Friday (vs Cal State L.A.) and Saturday (vs Cal State Dominguez Hills) at The Wolves' Den before heading back out on the road for another four-game roadtrip. Tipoff both nights is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
