Chico State Avenges Earlier Loss; Defeats CSUDH Women, 53-48
February 1, 2007

Courtesy Chico State Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

CHICO, Calif. – Amber Simmons finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals as the Chico State women’s basketball team avenged one of only two losses on the season with a 53-48 win against visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 8 in the nation, improved to 15-2 overall and 11-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with their 28th straight home victory. Cal State Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 4 in the West Region, handed Chico State its first loss of the season, 73-54, on Dec. 2. But a 47-32 rebounding deficit and their inability to counter Simmons doomed the Toros (10-6, 7-5 CCAA) Thursday night.

Audriana Spencer finished with 11 points for the Wildcats. Niki Simons chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, just one off her career high. Renee Goldoff pulled down nine rebounds to go along with six points.

Brittney Blankenship paced Dominguez Hills with 18 points, Brigayle Iglehart notched four steals to go along with her eight points, and Michelle Kribell scored seven. But the rest of the Toros combined for just 15 points on 7-of-25 shooting.

The Wildcats didn’t fare any better shooting the ball, making just 33-percent of their attempts. They were 10-of-16 from the free throw line, however, compared to Dominguez Hills’ 1-for-7.

Despite shooting 28 percent in the opening half, the Wildcats led 27-21 as Simmons finished the half with nine points and nine rebounds. An 11-2 run capped by consecutive Simmons layups built the Wildcats’ lead to 38-25 with 14 minutes to play.

Blankenship quickly got the Toros back in the game by scoring six straight points to spark a 14-2 run that cut the lead to 40-39. Spencer and Simons scored to stretch the lead to five, and then more than three minutes passed before either team could score again.

Ennisha Kyles scored with 3:58 remaining and Aujanee Baldwin made a free throw, but a Jade Smith-Williams jumper put the Wildcats’ cushion at 46-42. Iglehart’s jumper cut it to 46-44 before Simmons answered with a layup and the Wildcats made three free throws to lead 51-44 with 52 seconds to play.

Iglehart converted on a layup Blankenship scored another with 19 seconds remaining to pull the Toros to 51-48. A steal by Jessica Liang later, Iglehart was fouled with 11 seconds to play and missed both. Simons’ free throw with three seconds remaining sealed Chico State’s 59th straight win when holding an opponent to fewer than 70 points.

The Toros continue their road trip playing at Cal State Stanislaus Friday night.