A female student at Chico State University was sexually assaulted on campus early Thursday morning in what police are calling an attempted rape.

The victim, not named for her safety, was walking home to a residence hall at about 2:11 a.m. when she was approached by a man in his early 20s.

A press release from the University Police Department stated the suspect walked with the woman as she entered the campus and "befriended" her, but Sgt. Mark Snelgrove said he couldn't elaborate on what took place between them.

It isn't known if the suspect attends the university.

Police are looking for a second young woman who was walking with the victim and the suspect shortly before the attack.

As the two neared the bridge on Warner Street, just north of Siskiyou Hall, the man reportedly began the assault.

Screams from the victim attracted the attention of three campus custodians, working nearby. As they ran to her aid, the victim broke free and the suspect fled.

She was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Police described the suspect as white, 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet tall, with a muscular build and short, spiked brown hair.

Snelgrove said a campus escort service is available until 1 a.m. The campus also maintains 24-hour emergency "blue light" phones which, when activated, pinpoint the caller's location for police.

Anyone with information about the sexual assault is urged to call the University police at 898-5372.