ROHNERT PARK — Katie Franci scored on a baseline drive with 1:16 remaining and Trisha Alaba converted key free throws down the stretch, helping Humboldt State claim a 49-43 win over Sonoma State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women's game Thursday.

Breaking their pattern of dropping close games this season the Lumberjacks improved to 1-2 in the CCAA and evened their record at 5-5 overall. Falling for only the second time this season, Sonoma State stands at 8-2 and 2-1 in league.

"We've had so many heartbreakers," HSU head coach Joddie Gleason said. "This one is so nice. I'm happy for the players and the confidence they'll gain from this win."

 Franci scored 22 points Kayla Henrey added 10, as the Lumberjacks went inside to find success after a cold start from the perimeter. Danae Wellander had 14 points and Jennifer Russo scored 10 to pace Sonoma State.

The Jacks came out cold, missing their first three field goal attempts, all three-pointers. Franci finally got HSU on the board with a drive and free throw that put the Jacks up 3-2. The teams traded leads for awhile,  but good defense kept the shooing percentages low throughout the opening minutes.

HSU grabbed the lead at 15-13 after Franci drove the lane successfully and was fouled, hitting the ensuing free throw. The lead remained slim until Henry took a pass from Jennifer Enos, driving to the hole to give the Jacks their largest advantage of the first half at four points.

Chelsey Armacost's jumper tied the score at 21-21, and Genny Anderson drove for a sweeping right-handed layin to provide SSU with its largest lead at 23-21 just before the first half expired.

Humboldt State scored the first four points of the second half to retake the lead before Wellander tied it with a fall-away jumper. Much better shooting on both ends of the floor kept the game tight for the first seven minutes.

Brittany Taylor started an HSU surge with a three-pointer, and HSU kept the pressure on with two layups by Franci. The Lumberjacks' lead grew to eight points at 37-29 before SSU interrupted the run with Russo's layup and free throw.

Sonoma closed the gap further before the Jacks surged again, moving ahead by as many as nine points. The Seawolves answered with a 6-0 run, pulling within three points before HSU held them off down the stretch.


Humboldt State vs Sonoma State
01/03/08 5:30 pm at Rohnert Park, CA
At Rohnert Park, CA
HUMBOLDT STATE 49, SONOMA STATE 43
HUMBOLDT STATE (5-5, 1-2 CCAA)
FRANCI, Katie 9-18 4-5 22; HENRY, Kayla 4-10 2-3 10; ALABA, Trisha 1-9 3-4
5; PETERSON, Paige 2-3 0-0 5; TAYLOR, Brittney 1-4 1-2 4; KILGORE, Taylor
1-4 0-0 3; FELBAB, Melissa 0-0 0-0 0; HAAYER, Jessica 0-0 0-0 0; ARGANDA,
Biava 0-0 0-0 0; O'KEEFE, Kristina 0-0 0-0 0; ENOS, Jennifer 0-6 0-0 0.
Totals 18-54 10-14 49.
SONOMA STATE (8-2, 2-1 CCAA)
WELLANDER, Danae 5-14 4-7 14; RUSSO, Jennifer 4-7 1-1 10; ANDERSON, Genny
3-11 0-0 6; MERTLE, Heidi 1-4 3-6 5; ARMACOST, Chelsey 2-7 0-1 4; GARDNER,
Michelle 1-2 0-0 2; REDFIELD, Lauren 1-7 0-2 2; MEADE, Carissa 0-1 0-2 0;
LARKIN, Olivia 0-0 0-0 0; SHREVE, Christy 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 17-56 8-19 43.
Humboldt State................   21   28  -   49
Sonoma State..................   23   20  -   43
3-point goals--Humboldt State 3-17 (TAYLOR, Brittney 1-2; KILGORE, Taylor
1-2; PETERSON, Paige 1-1; ENOS, Jennifer 0-5; ALABA, Trisha 0-5; FRANCI,
Katie 0-2), Sonoma State 1-11 (RUSSO, Jennifer 1-3; ANDERSON, Genny 0-1;
ARMACOST, Chelsey 0-1; REDFIELD, Lauren 0-2; MEADE, Carissa 0-1; WELLANDER,
Danae 0-3). Fouled out--Humboldt State-None, Sonoma State-None.
Rebounds--Humboldt State 40 (FRANCI, Katie 8; HENRY, Kayla 8), Sonoma State
43 (MERTLE, Heidi 9). Assists--Humboldt State 7 (FRANCI, Katie 3), Sonoma
State 8 (WELLANDER, Danae 4). Total fouls--Humboldt State 17, Sonoma State
17. Technical fouls--Humboldt State-None, Sonoma State-None. A-318