Box Score ARCATA, Calif. – The Pioneer women's basketball team made it seven straight victories after a hard-earned 58-53 overtime win over Humboldt State on Saturday.

With the victory, East Bay takes sole possession of fourth place in the CCAA with an 11-7 record. The Pioneers improve to 13-9 overall. Humboldt State stands at 5-13 in CCAA play and 9-15 for the season.

“We are incredibly happy this long road trip is over,” Pioneer Head Coach Suzy Barcomb said. “This was another gutsy performance by our team. We are ecstatic we were able to pull out the win and stay within reach of our goals.”

Sarah Finlay, who scored seven points in the overtime period, sank a three-pointer with 4:33 left in overtime to give the Pioneers a 52-49 advantage. Following a basket by the Jacks, Brianna Terrance hit a jumper as the Pioneers maintained a 54-51 lead.

Finlay added a jumper and two free throws in the final 44 seconds sending the Pioneers to their seventh straight win.

“Fin was outstanding in the overtime period, scoring seven of our nine points,” Barcomb said.

Leading 27-20 at halftime, the Pioneers held a six-point advantage with 15:05 left in the second half on a Rachel Finnegan basket.

Elle Anderson converted a layup with 8:55 left as Humboldt State took a 35-33 lead. The Jacks maintained a 37-35 advantage two minutes later on an Anderson basket.

Lauren Lucchesi hit a three-pointer and a jumper by Terrance enabled the Pioneers to take a 40-37 lead with 4:58 left.

The Jacks rallied twice to tie the game the following two minutes.

Following a free throw by Micah Walker, Hege Blikra made a basket and Lucchesi hit a jumper with 1:28 remaining to give the Pioneers a 48-43 lead.

Lisa Petty, the Jacks' leading scorer for the season, hit a three-pointer with 1:03 remaining and nailed another basket from beyond the arc with two seconds left to send the game into overtime.   

“Humboldt hit us with everything they had and it was a relentless barrage of 3-ball after 3-ball,” Barcomb said. “We shot poorly, gave up too many offensive boards and missed free throws. And yet we still found a way to buckle down and earn a win.”

Led by Terrance six points, the Pioneers jumped out to a 16-4 in the first 11 minutes of the first half. A tough Pioneer defense held the Jacks to only a pair of baskets.

The Jacks responded with an 8-2 run to trim the Pioneers advantage to six points with 6:10 remaining.

Terrance hit a jumper a minute later to increase the Pioneers' lead to 20-12.

Petty hit a pair of free throws as the Jacks went on a second 8-2 run to trail 22-20 with 1:06 left.

Blikra hit a big three-pointer, while Terrance scored her 10th point of the half on a jumper, enabling the Pioneers to take a 27-20 halftime lead.

Terrance had another big game for the Pioneers with 17 points on 7 of 12 from the field and six rebounds. Finlay and Lucchesi each scored 10 points for the Pioneers.

“Bri has been playing a high level of basketball in the second half of the season,” Barcomb said.  “She has been instrumental in our recent surge.”

The Pioneers will play at CCAA co-leader UC San Diego on February 22.