CHICO -- Cal State LA's women's basketball team found the road unkind in the opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.

The Golden Eagles ran into a hot-shooting Chico State team on Tuesday that took full advantage of its home-court advantage in Acker Gym. The Golden Eagles allowed 28 first-quarter points and never could catch up in a 78-62 loss. Cal State LA (14-15) saw its season end, while Chico State (17-9) advances to the conference semi-finals in Pomona on Friday.

Rikke Fabricius, the only senior on Cal State LA's young team, finished her career with another outstanding game. She had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles. Christine Delapina had 13 points.

Whitney Branham had a huge game for the Wildcats, pouring in a game-high 28 points, including nine in a row on three 3-pointers during a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter after the Golden Eagles had cut into what was once a 16-point deficit. Kayla Taylor added 12 points.

Rebeccah DiRegolo had seven points and four rebounds, while Rachael DiRegolo had three points and nine rebounds.

Cal State LA surrendered the first six points of the game and never got even. The Golden Eagles got on the board on a basket by Fabricius, but Chico State led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and settled for a 28-17 lead after one quarter. The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, but a pair of free throws by Fabricius made it 42-31 at halftime.

Madison Adams opened the second half with a 3-pointer to make it 42-34, but Chico State again responded and carried a 56-40 lead into the fourth period.

Cal State LA then embarked on its most successful stretch of the game, scoring the first 11 points of the period to slice the deficit to five points, 56-51, with 6:37 to go. Mackenzie Barnes started the run with a basket, Fabricius hit two free throws and then a basket and Rebeccah DiRegolo scored five straight points to get the Golden Eagles close.

A three-point play by Delapina kept the Golden Eagles within striking distance at 63-55 with 3:37 to go, but Chico State responded with a 9-2 run accomplished by three 3-pointers by Branham, to regain control.