Box Score Box score

ARCATA, Calif. – Despite putting together one of its best all-around performances of the season, the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team fell just short in a 61-50 loss to Humboldt State on Thursday night at Lumberjack Arena. The Pioneers (1-16, 1-13 CCAA) never trailed by more than 10 over the first 38 minutes of the game and had its best night of the season from the free throw line, but could not get past an HSU squad that shot 56 percent from three-point range and 48 percent from the field.

Though East Bay had no players reach double figures in scoring, every player scored at least two points, led by freshman forward Cassie Coble, who notched eight points. Brianna Terrance and Lauren Lucchesi each added seven points, while Marlene MacMillan and Maria Dinesen notched six and five points, respectively. Dinesen and Terrance paced the Pioneers on the boards, grabbing three rebounds apiece. Dinesen also stepped up defensively, snagging a season-high four steals, while MacMillan swatted a pair of shots for East Bay.

The Pioneers finished the game shooting 39.1 percent from the field and knocked down 11 of their 14 shots from the charity stripe to finish at 78.6 percent from the line, a new season high. Humboldt State out-rebounded East Bay 33-22, but the Pioneers committed just 14 turnovers while forcing 17 Jacks miscues.

HSU was led by three players in double figures in scoring, Lisa Petty's 17 points led the pack, while Taylor Kilgore and Jeanette DeWitt added 14 and 10, respectively. Bree Halsey was just one point away from a double-double, cleaning up on the glass with 11 rebounds while contributing nine points on the night. Both Kilgore and Petty finished the night 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, helping the Jacks finish 9-for-16 from three-point range.

After getting out to an early 10-6 lead at the 16:01 mark, the Jacks never trailed in the first half. Though the Pioneers held Humboldt scoreless for the next four minutes, they could not take advantage and gain the lead, only getting within two points on a pair of free throws from Amaris Sanders that snapped their own nearly four minute scoring drought.

A three from Petty with 12 minutes remaining gave Humboldt a 13-8 lead and kicked off a 13-6 run by the Jacks that included another pair of buckets from long range by Petty and gave HSU a 23-14 lead, its largest of the game at that point. The two squads traded buckets over the final six minutes, giving the Jacks a 30-21 advantage at the break.

Though the Pioneers finished the half shooting an impressive 40 percent, Humboldt State bested them with a blistering 57.1 percentage, knocking down six threes. Terrance and Azizi Dotson paced East Bay in the first frame with four points apiece, while Petty led the Jacks with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field in the opening half.

After Humboldt State came out of the half and took a 34-23 lead less than two minutes in, the Pioneers responded with seven straight points to close the lead to just four points. The run saw Lucchesi knock down a trey and MacMillan score four points while the defense forced a pair of turnovers and held the Jacks without a basket for nearly four minutes, closing the gap to 34-30 with 15:57 left to play.

A pair of Petty free throws ended the scoring drought for HSU, but the Pioneers continued to work, keeping the Jacks within six points over the next five minutes, thanks to three points apiece from Terrance and Sarah Finlay and excellent free throw shooting. After Humboldt State regained a seven-point lead, 43-36, on two free throws from DeWitt with 10:25 remaining, East Bay responded with a seven-point run to tie the game for the first time. Finlay turned up the heat, scoring four of the seven points, while Coble hit a three, to pull the Pioneers even at 43 points apiece at the 8:55 mark.

Though Humboldt State hit a pair of free throws to regain the lead, a jumper from Lucchesi tied the game again, 45-45, with 8:25 left. Following a nearly two-minute scoring drought on both sides, the Jacks recaptured the lead for good, going on a 16-5 run to finish out the game and pick up their second victory over the Pioneers this season.

Cal State East Bay will look to get back on the winning track on Saturday when it travels to Sonoma State. SSU fell to UC San Diego, 58-54, on Thursday night, but boast a 60-56 victory over East Bay earlier this season. The Pioneers and Seawolves (6-11, 4-9) are set for a 5:30 p.m. tip at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.