Box Score: Coyotes 70, Chico State 60

CHICO -- Chico State has been a difficult place to play in past years for the Cal State San Bernardino women's basketball team. Entering Saturday night's game, the Coyotes had won just twice in 11 trips all-time at Acker Gymnasium.

Chalk up win No. 3 for the Coyotes, who were stellar from the free throw line in the second half as they never trailed in the final 20 minutes and earned a 70-60 win over the Wildcats.

Not only was this victory a rare one, but it was monumental in other respects. Namely, the Coyotes, now 18-5 overall and 14-5 in the CCAA,  guaranteed themselves no worse than the fourth seed in the upcoming CCAA Tournament and earned a first-round contest at Coussoulis Arena on March 1.

Leading the way for the second night in a row was senior Danielle Shows. One night after lighting up CSUS with a 31-point, 20-rebound effort, the Carson native scored 18 points including a 12 of 14 effort from the charity stripe.

In fact, Shows and teammate Sabrina Gonzalez combined to go 24 of 26 from the line. Gonzalez added 17 points as did senior Eisha Sheppard. Senior Kym Ooten added 10 points.

The Coyotes gained the lead for good when Gonzalez hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining in the first half as CSUSB led at the break, 29-27.

Ooten was the key in the first half as she scored eight points and played the entire 20 minutes.

Shows and Gonzalez each had 10 points from the line in the deciding second half as CSUSB won for the first time in Chico in seven years.

Jazmine Miller had 13 for the Wildcats, 14-10, 11-9.

CSUSB returns to the court Tuesday night when they play host to the West Region's top team, Cal Poly Pomona. The Broncos lost at CSU Stanislaus, 83-80.