ARCATA, Calif. - Cal State East Bay traded blows for three quarters with Northwest Nazarene on Saturday evening in Arcata, but a fourth-quarter surge by the Nighthawks sent the Pioneers to an 85–75 defeat at the Lumberjack Classic.
 
East Bay opened with one of its sharpest offensive quarters of the young season. The Pioneers shot 55 percent in the first period, attacking the paint early through Taylor Eldredge and Krista Sheaffer, who each converted baskets inside. Lucca Lowenberg provided the perimeter spark, drilling two threes in the opening frame, including a transition triple off a Hailey Estrada assist that put East Bay up 13–12. The teams traded scores throughout a back-and-forth quarter featuring five ties, but a pair of late free throws allowed Northwest Nazarene to carry a 22–21 lead into the second
 
The Pioneers responded with its best stretch of the game, outscoring NNU 20–18 in the second quarter behind efficient shooting and timely bench production. Lowenberg continued her hot hand, hitting another three to tie the game at 26–26 before later burying another fast-break triple to pull East Bay within two. Mia Vaasili added a burst as well, scoring four straight, including a transition layup that gave East Bay a 34–32 advantage. Though NNU briefly reclaimed the lead late in the half, East Bay's sank free-throws to head to the break down 41-40.
 
The third quarter unfolded with more momentum swings, but the Pioneers offense carried the quarter. Lowenberg opened the half by slicing to the rim for a three-point play and then adding two free throws, helping East Bay push ahead 47–40. Sierra Morris and Eldredge added fast-break layups to sustain the lead before Northwest Nazarene started to chip away. NNU hit a three in the final minute of the period to go ahead by one before Lowenberg hit two technical free throws to send East Bay into the fourth up 58–57
 
The fourth quarter belonged to Northwest Nazarene as they opened with a 10–1 run.  East Bay briefly halted the surge behind a jumper from Aloha Akaka and back-to-back scores from Eldredge and Morris, trimming the deficit to 69–66 with just over four minutes remaining. However, NNU answered with a backbreaking three from Sadi Clemons and a series of free-throw conversions that steadily widened the margin. East Bay continued fighting, Lowenberg adding her fifth three of the night and Estrada sinking two late free throws, but the Nighthawks' 28-point fourth quarter proved too much to overcome
 
Lowenberg finished with a team-high 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 5-for-8 from deep, to go along with a perfect night at the line. Eldredge added 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Morris tacked on 10 points. Estrada filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
 
East Bay shot 43 percent from the field and 84 percent at the line, but 32 turnovers ultimately swung the contest.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Thursday when they head to Atherton to take on Menlo.