ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - The Sonoma State women's basketball team dropped a tough one on Saturday afternoon, falling into the final seconds to Chico State 58-56.  The Seawolves led by nine with just over three minutes remaining but could not put the Wildcats away. SSU moves to 5-6 in CCAA play but remain in the hunt for a conference tournament berth. 

The Seawolves started quick, using a seven point run to lead 7-2 in the opening minutes. Chasity Spady knocked down the first 3-pointer of the game during the run.  Chico State answered with the next nine points to retake the lead before Aaryn Pickett and Alli McDonald scored six in a row to end the first with Sonoma ahead 13-11.

The second quarter featured several lead changes with both teams trading buckets throughout.  The Seawolves led by as many as four after a basket by McDonald and a triple from Pickett. The Wildcats quickly flipped the game with an 8-0 and led by four with 1:19 remaining in the half.  Zane Sheckherd closed the period with a tough layup plus the free-throw to send the game to the break at 26-25. 

After the Wildcats opened the second with a 3-pointer Sonoma responded with a 7-0 run to take the advantage back. Pickett once again came up big with a three to cap off the run.  Chico would overtake the Seawolves once again with back-to-back threes and led 37-34 with just over three minutes left in the third. Spady knocked down a pair of freebies on the next trip and McDonald ended the quarter with a seven point spurt of her own. She converted two layups and drilled a 3-pointer to make it 43-37. 

The Seawolves put a little distance between them and the Wildcats in the fourth, using another seven point run to lead by as many as nine with 4:16 remaining. Sheckherd delivered a big triple and Spady knocked down a tough jumper to make it 51-42.  From there the Wildcats offense caught fire as Mackenzi Laporte scored seven straight Chico State points. With Sonoma leading by four Haley Ison drained a three for the Wildcats to make it a one point game in the final minute.  After a defensive stop, Ison made another jumper and Sonoma now trailed with 18 seconds remaining. 

The Seawolves came up empty on the next possession and a pair of free throws for Chico State made it a three point game. McDonald sank a long two on the next possession and after a free throw from the Wildcats the Seawolves had a chance to tie with eight ticks left. Camille Johnson's layup just missed but Sheckherd grabbed the rebound and was fouled to earn two free throws. She made one of two and Sonoma was forced to foul again. With one final chance at the buzzer the Sonoma half court shot missed wide to seal the game. 

McDonald was unstoppable on the night for SSU, finishing with a career high 19 points on 8 of 9 shooting. She added nine rebounds, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks.  Pickett tacked on 12 points and four rebounds while Sheckherd returned with ten points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Seawolves will look to rebound next week with a pair of CCAA road tests against Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State. All games can be seen at www.CCAAnetwork.com.