CHICO, Calif. -- Ally Bates scored a season-high 26 points with five three-pointers as the Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team rallied from a 16-point deficit late in the second quarter to capture an impressive 68-63 victory over host Chico State on Thursday night at Acker Gymnasium in Chico.

The Broncos rise to 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the CCAA. The Wildcats fell to 9-6 (5-4 CCAA).

Chico had the hot hand to open the contest, connecting on 10 of its first 16 shots to take a large 24-12 lead after the opening 10 minutes of action. The second period went back and forth and CPP would find itself trailing 38-28 at the half.  However, the Broncos went on a 12-0 run to open the third quarter, part of a stretch of 18 unanswered points by the Broncos that begun with two minutes left in the first half, turning what was a 16-point deficit into a 40-38 lead with 4:53 to play in the third. During the seven-and-a-half minute run that CPP held Chico scoreless, the Broncos went 7 of 13 from the floor as the Wildcats went ice cold, missing all 10 shots they attempted.

Chico's Myli Martinez ended the visitor's run with five points on consecutive possessions, but Pomona recaptured the lead at 47-43 heading into the final period. The hosts then opened the final quarter on a 9-0 run over two minutes to earn a five-point lead at 52-47, but CPP responded with a 21-8 run to hold a 68-60 lead with 18 seconds left in regulation, a lead that the Broncos would not relinquish.

Bates' 26 points was one point shy of her career high of 27, accomplishing it on a night she shot 8 of 17, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, adding nine rebounds, four steals and three assists in all 40 minutes of action. Donja Payne came off the bench for her first action since Dec. 8, putting together an 11-point, 13-rebound, 3-block effort in 24 minutes. Kalaya Buggs and Ciara James each chipped in with eight points while Chynna Cochran added six points off the bench.

The Broncos hit on 45.6 percent of their shots (26 of 57) and out-rebounded the Wildcats 36-31 while committing just 11 turnovers. The Wildcats cooled to a 42.1 percent clip on offense (24 of 57) and drained 10 three-pointers in 28 attempts from deep.

Martinez ended with 17 points to lead the Wildcats.

Cal Poly Pomona will head to the Central Valley for a Saturday afternoon tilt against Stanislaus State, set for a 1:00 pm tipoff.

Bronco Bits

• Head coach Danelle Bishop moves to 356-199 in her 19th season as a head coach, including 218-114 in 12 seasons at Cal Poly Pomona.
• The Broncos have started the season at 10-3 or better through the first 13 games for the sixth time in the last 13 seasons.
• CPP snaps a four-game losing streak to Chico, rising to 30-28 all-time against the Wildcats.
• Ally Bates scored 20+ points for the seventh time in the last two seasons, including the fourth time this year.
• Donja Payne returned from injury to record her team-leading fifth double-double of the season.
• As a program, Cal Poly Pomona is now 1,031-396 in its 48th season, including 373-204 in away games and 290-92 in the month of January since its inception in 1974-75.