ARCATA, Calif. -- Shannon Bland had a game-high 18 points as the Cal State East Bay women's basketball team won its seventh straight overall by defeating Humboldt State 61-50 on the road Thursday. The win clinches a first-round home game for the Pioneers in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, which begins March. 1.

"A road win was critical for us and now we get to host a first-round CCAA playoff game. That has been the goal for us all season," said Cal State East Bay Head Coach Suzy Barcomb.

The Pioneers are now 20-4 overall and 14-2 in CCAA play, including a perfect 9-0 mark on the road. It's the second staright 20-win season for the team under Barcomb, which has only happened once before in program history (2002-04). With four regular season games to play, the Pioneers are just one win away from matching the program record for victories. The Lumberjacks fall to 8-8 in the conference and 11-12 overall. 

It didn't start out so well for CSUEB as they trailed 20-12 after the first quarter when the Lumberjacks shot 4-5 on three pointers and 8-11 from the field.  But the Pioneers would quickly eliminate their deficit in the second quarter. Madison Craig hit a three-pointer with 4:37 left before the half to give the Pioneers a 24-22 lead and the Pioneers wouldn't trail again.  Laci Effenberger would a three-pointer with 22 seconds left in the second to make it 33-29 heading to the half.

The third quarter saw the Pioneers take firm control of the game and build a game-high 13 point lead at 45-32 before ending the quarter up 45-34. The Lumberjacks couldn't get any closer than seven points in the fourth as the Pioneers hit their free throws late in the game to secure the 11 point win.

"We dug ourselves out of the first quarter hole," said Barcomb. "HSU shot the lights out from the three-point line in the first half. Our defense finally showed itself in the second half and we were able to go on a little run."

Bland got her 18 points on 6-14 shooting and 4-5 from the free throw line. Tori Breshers and Effenberger were also in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Remy Puou had nine points, a game-high seven rebounds, and two blocks. Madison Craig had seven points and a game-high three steals.

The Pioneers shot 40.4 percent (19-47) compared to 31.3 percent (15-48) for the Lumberjacks. Breshers, Puou and company defended the interior effectively, as CSUEB outscored Humboldt State 24-8 in in the paint.

Cal State East Bay now gets a travel day Friday before playing at Cal Poly Pomona in their final regular season road game of the season Saturday.

"Now we travel to the other end of California and need to be ready to play from the moment the ball is tipped," said Barcomb.

Game Time at Cal Poly Pomona is set for 5:30 P.M.