TURLOCK — The Stanislaus State women's basketball team earned their second consecutive win over Chico State in three days with a great defensive effort as the Warriors rallied from behind to beat the Wildcats, 63-57, at Acker Gymnasium. 

The Warriors stole the game from the Wildcats to improve to 15-12 overall and 13-5 in the CCAA. With their second loss in a row to Stan State the Wildcats are now 14-10, 9-9 in conference. Stanislaus State remains in third place, a game behind second place Cal State East Bay and a game in front of Cal Poly Pomona. The Warriors are also two games ahead of fifth place Cal State San Bernardino, in the race for that all-important first round home game to start the CCAA Tournament.

On Saturday night, Cassidy Sanders-Curry was once again the points leader for the Warriors with 23 points. She tacked on five assists and three steals. Ana Burch tallied 17 points and was the leading rebounder with eight rebounds. 

A major decisive factor in the game was the turnover differential. Chico State committed 26 turnovers to the Warriors nine with Stan State recording 15 steals. The Warriors scored 23 points off of those Wildcats turnovers.

The Wildcats came out with revenge in sight, scoring the first 11 points of the game and led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Warriors charged back and out-scored Chico, 20-7 in the second quarter for a 27-26 lead at the half.

The second half featured a see-saw battled until the Warriors went on a 6-0 run, capped by an Burch three-pointer at 1:32 left, for a 59-54 lead. The Warriors would convert on their free throws down the stretch to seal their fifth consecutive win.

Chico State's leading scorer was Madison Wong with 13 points. McKena Barker led the game with 14 rebounds. 

The Warriors will be back on the road next weekend for the final pair of CCAA regular season games. Stan State will travel to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, and Cal State East Bay on Saturday.