BOX SCORE

CHICO, Calif. — Playing on the road without its top ball handler proved to be a fatal combination for the Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball team Thursday night in a 51–47 loss to Chico State in Acker Gym.

Junior guard Stefanie Corgel (Manhattan Beach/UCSB), who had started all 24 games this season at the point, missed Thursday's encounter between CCAA contenders due to illness. With Corgel out, the Otters turned the ball over on their final four meaningful possessions, turning a two–point CSUMB lead with possession into a four-point defeat over the final 82 seconds.

With the loss, CSUMB (17-8, 14-7 CCAA) now needs to win at Cal State Stanislaus Friday to secure what likely would be a second place finish in the CCAA. Should the Otters fall in Turlock, a variety of scenarios would come into play, placing the Otters somewhere between the No. 2 seed and the No. 6 seed.
Chico State (16-9, 13-8), the likely No. 6 seed, kept alive its hopes of earning a top four seed and a home CCAA Tournament date.

Thursday's game was close throughout, but the Otters played one or two possessions behind for most of the night. CSUMB finally took the lead, 44-42, on a Brittani Jefferson (Palmdale/Quartz Hill HS) layup with 3:27 to play.

The Otters had the ball leading 46–44 with 94 second to go when the first of four consecutive turnovers put the Otters into a hole from which they could not extricate themselves as Chico eased back into the lead for good.

Jefferson led all players with 11 points and 11 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season. Brandi Stephens (Sacramento/El Camino HS) chipped in 10 points while Jessica Fontenette (Chino Hills/Bishop Amat) added three assists, three steals and two blocks.

McKenzie Dalthrop and Crystal Sewell led Chico with 10 points apiece.