ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State women's basketball team erased a 17-point second half deficit on their way to a 56-52 win over Chico State on Rivalry Night.  The Seawolves improved to 2-1 in CCAA play and 6-2 overall with the victory. 
 
The game started slow with nearly four minutes passing and SSU leading 2-0 on a basket by Emerson Herrmann.  Chico finally broke through at the 6-minute mark with five straight points.  Madisyn Clark connected a 3-pointer for the Seawolves a couple minutes later to tie the game at 8-8 but the Wildcats would end the quarter strong on an 8-2 run.  Sienna Cherwinski's jumper in the final seconds sent the game to the second with Chico State leading 16-10. 
 
Cherwinski sank an early triple to cut the deficit to five but the Wildcats responded with ten straight points to lead by as many as 15.  The Seawolves got the margin down to single digits with a quick 7-0 run on baskets by Eryn Gardner, Jennifer Moreno and Alli McDonald.  Chico State ended the half with a 3-pointer and took a 31-20 lead into halftime. 
 
The Seawolves looked to be in trouble as the Wildcats pushed their advantage to as many at 17 halfway through the third.  Trailing 42-25 with four minutes remaining in the third Sonoma State began to chip away.  Herrmann made a layup and Clark followed with a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run and pull within ten.  Jayme Blackard made a pair of free-throws in the final minute of the third to make it an 8-point contest heading into the fourth. 
 
The fourth was all Sonoma State as the Seawolves dialed up the defense and hit some key shots.  Cherwinski opened with a triple and McDonald hit a jumper to make it a 3-point game with five minutes remaining.  McDonald then recorded a big put back and Laura Smith followed with a layup and suddenly it was a 1-point game.  After a basket by Chico, Herrmann converted a layup plus the foul to even the score at 50-50 with just 90-seconds remaining. 
 
The Seawolves got a big stop on the defensive end and McDonald and Blackard followed with two free-throws apiece to make it 54-50.  The Wildcats cut the deficit in half on the next possession but Cherwinski iced the game with two more freebies.  SSU held Chico State to just 2 of 14 in the fourth, including nine straight misses. 
 
Clark led the Seawolves with 11 points, hitting 3 of 4 from long distance.  Cherwinski and Herrmann added 10 apiece with Cherwinski also recording a game high four steals.  McDonald just missed a double-double with 9 points and 15 rebounds. 
 
The Seawolves are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host Cal Poly Humboldt at 1:00 pm.  The game will be streamed on the CCAA Network and live stats available at www.sonomaseawolves.com.