MONMOUTH, Ore. – Despite foul trouble in the first half, the Humboldt State women's basketball team opened the Phoenix Inn DII Shootout tournament, hosted by Western Oregon University, with a 77-55 victory over Saint Martin's, Friday.

The Lumberjacks improve their overall record to 2-1, while the Saint's register their first loss of the season for a 2-1 overall mark.

Brittney Taylor started the Jacks' off with a steal and layin in just over a minute into the game. HSU went on to score 17 of the game's first 25 points in just seven minutes.

With a 28-16 score at eight minutes and 58 seconds, HSU took its biggest lead of the first half. But the Saints went on a 10-point run to come within two points in a minute and 46 seconds of play.

Despite foul trouble, the Jacks limited the Saints to only seven more points in the half while knocking down 13 to end the half with a 41-33 score.

HSU began the second half strong as it increased its lead to 19 points after going on an eight-point run with 13 minutes and 40 seconds left in the game. From that point on the Jacks never let the Saints get within less than 15 points.

Taylor paced the way for the Jacks with 19 points and added seven rebounds. Katie Franci tallied HSU's lone double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Peterson registered 12 points and nine rebounds.

“Britt was awesome,” said Gleason. “She's developed into a starting player and has really blossomed. She did a great job doubling down low or kicking back out. She helps out on defense, recovering and using those long arms.”

“Katie's a great defender,” said Gleason. “She's also our all-around-go-to offensive player. They were fighting down low. She and (Dara Zack) are both undersized posts, and they know how to work down low. She's a workhorse for us.”

Megan Teade and Michelle Short tallied double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Saints, while the team sank 18 of 20 shots from the line.

The Jacks continue tournament play with a 3 p.m. tip-off against host WOU, Saturday.

Newspaper Box Score
Saint Martin's vs Humboldt State
11/21/08 1 PM at New PE Building (Monmouth, Ore.)
At New PE Building (Monmouth, Ore.)
HUMBOLDT STATE 77, SAINT MARTIN'S 55
SAINT MARTIN'S (2-1)
Teade,Megan 4-10 6-6 15; Short,Michelle 3-8 4-4 12; Zack,Dara 3-7 1-2 8;
Bassett,Krissy 2-8 2-2 6; Mielke,Roni Jo 2-10 0-0 5; Gelhar,Jamey 1-5 1-2 3;
Busch,Megan 0-2 2-2 2; Nauert,Katee 0-0 2-2 2; Lawson,Danika 1-1 0-0 2;
Hawkins,Katie 0-2 0-0 0; Baker,Kelsey 0-4 0-0 0; Lashua,Emily 0-3 0-0 0.
Totals 16-60 18-20 55.
HUMBOLDT STATE (2-1)
TAYLOR, Brittney 9-10 1-2 19; PETERSON,Paige 5-9 0-0 12; FRANCI, Katie 4-10
4-4 12; ALEXANDER, Sallye 4-6 0-1 8; WILLIAMS, Kayla 2-2 2-2 7; HALSEY, Bree
3-4 0-0 6; ENOS, Jennifer 2-9 0-0 5; KILGORE, Taylor 2-9 0-0 5; BOBIC,
Andrea 1-5 0-0 3; O'KEEFE, Kristina 0-3 0-0 0; OSBORNE, Luiza 0-1 0-0 0;
ALABA, Trisha 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 32-71 7-9 77.
Saint Martin's................   33   22  -   55
Humboldt State................   41   36  -   77
3-point goals--Saint Martin's 5-15 (Short,Michelle 2-2; Teade,Megan 1-3;
Zack,Dara 1-3; Mielke,Roni Jo 1-1; Baker,Kelsey 0-1; Lashua,Emily 0-1;
Busch,Megan 0-2; Gelhar,Jamey 0-2), Humboldt State 6-23 (PETERSON,Paige 2-2;
BOBIC, Andrea 1-4; ENOS, Jennifer 1-6; KILGORE, Taylor 1-6; WILLIAMS, Kayla
1-1; OSBORNE, Luiza 0-1; ALABA, Trisha 0-3). Fouled out--Saint
Martin's-Teade,Megan, Humboldt State-None. Rebounds--Saint Martin's 31
(Zack,Dara 8), Humboldt State 55 (FRANCI, Katie 11). Assists--Saint Martin's
7 (Zack,Dara 1; Bassett,Krissy 1; Lashua,Emily 1; Baker,Kelsey 1;
Short,Michelle 1; Gelhar,Jamey 1; Teade,Megan 1), Humboldt State 14
(PETERSON,Paige 2; KILGORE, Taylor 2; OSBORNE, Luiza 2; ENOS, Jennifer 2).
Total fouls--Saint Martin's 14, Humboldt State 22. Technical fouls--Saint
Martin's-None, Humboldt State-None. A-93
Phoenix Inn D2 Shootout, Game 1
Hosted by Western Oregon