ARCATA, Calif. - In a CCAA women's basketball matchup, Cal Poly Humboldt edged out Cal State East Bay 63-61 on Saturday afternoon at Lumberjack Arena. The Pioneers suffered a heartbreaking loss despite leading for most of the game, as the Lumberjacks mounted a stunning comeback in the final minute.

GAME SUMMARY

The Pioneers started strong, building a 10-point lead in the first quarter and maintaining control through most of the first half. At halftime, East Bay held a 30-26 advantage. The third quarter saw a brief lead change, but the Pioneers regained control and extended their lead to 47-40 entering the final period.

With just over a minute left, East Bay seemed poised for victory, leading 61-53 after a layup by Gwendilyn Aasland at the 1:03 mark. However, the Lumberjacks unleashed a furious 10-0 run in the final 60 seconds. Kendall Pickford's clutch 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining gave Humboldt a 62-61 lead, their first since early in the third quarter. An offensive foul by East Bay on the ensuing possession sealed the game, with Humboldt adding a free throw for the final margin.

Notable Pioneer Performances:

NOTABLE STATS

• Gwendilyn Aasland and Sierra Morris led East Bay with 16 points each. Aasland shot an efficient 6-for-10 from the field and perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, while also grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.
• Morris provided a spark off the bench, going 7-for-11 from the field, including two 3-pointers.
• Taylor Eldredge contributed 13 points and a team-high four steals.
• The Pioneers shot 39.7% from the field compared to Humboldt's 37.7%.
• Cal Poly Humboldt's Kaiija Lesane led all scorers with 24 points.

POSTGAME QUOTE

Cal State East Bay head coach Jenny Thigpin following Saturday's stunning loss:
"We gave ourselves a chance to win the game but down the stretch we made mental mistakes that we should not make in late game situations. We played well enough to win for 39 minutes but it's unfortunate that a game is 40 minutes."

RECORDS

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers will look to bounce back in their next game, an exhibition matchup at Nevada on Saturday, December 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. from Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.