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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - No. 2 seed Chico State scored the first 12 points of the game and then held off a late charge by No. 3 seed Cal Poly Pomona to earn an 80-74 win in the semifinals of the 2024 CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. (Mar. 8)
 
The Wildcats came ready to play, hitting their first five shots of the game to take the 12-point lead. They stayed hot throughout the quarter, shooting .611 percent from the field and .625 percent from behind the arc to build a 28-13 lead.
 
Chico State extended its advantage to over 20 points and took a 45-25 lead into halftime. Makenzi Laporte scored all 15 of her points in the first half, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
 
By the end of the third quarter, Chico State had extended its advantage to 24 and led 65-41. In the fourth quarter, Cal Poly Pomona outscored Chico 33-15 and cut the lead to 10 with 2:41 left and six with a minute remaining. However, that was as close as the Broncos would get, as the Wildcats went 4-for-4 from the free throw line late in the game to seal the win.
 
Brandy Huffhines and Jordan Allred paced Chico State with 17 points apiece. Zhane Duckett scored 11 points and recorded four steals. Laporte led the team with seven rebounds. Chico State finished the game 12-of-23 from 3-point range.
 
Jeanette Fine came off the bench to lead Cal Poly Pomona with 24 points on 9-of-15. CCAA Freshman of the Year, Sydney Nelson played all 40 minutes, adding 22 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
Chico State will advance to the 2024 CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Championship, where it will face the winner of No. 1 seed Cal State San Marcos and No. 4 Cal State LA.