NAMPA, Idaho – The Humboldt State women's basketball team defeated Western Oregon 97-66 Friday, to open tournament play at the Hampton Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Classic.

The Lumberjacks improved their overall record to 4-1, while the Wolves fell 3-2.

The Jacks opened the game with a 10-point surge with back-to-back jumpers by Katie Franci and Peterson. But the Wolves' Alissa Brasel answered back sinking two free throw shots and back-to-back to jumpers, to contribute to the Wolves 8-2 run.

But a Jennifer Enos' three-pointer began a HSU eight-point run with 10:28 left in the half. From that point on, HSU did not let the Wolves get within 10 points as they entered halftime leading WOU 47-34.

The Jacks began the second half registering 26 points in the first 10 minutes, while limiting the Wolves to five. WOU picked up the pace for last part of the game posting 27 points, but their efforts were not enough to cut the Jacks lead under 30 points.

"I think our defense came out and set the tone of the game early," Humboldt State head women's basketball coach Joddie Gleason. "We did a great job on our rotations and doubling down on their key players. We did a better job on defense with taking better shots and hitting the boards well to keep them on their heels the whole game."

Brittney Taylor posted a team-high 22 points for the Jacks, while Franci, Enos and Peterson contributed 13, 12 and 11 points respectively. Luiza Osborne recorded a team-high four steals, while the team registered 11 steals and six blocks.

"We had a better sense of defense that helped everyone score," Gleason said. We were able to go inside and outside for point on offense that helped open up for Brittney and Katie a little more. Brittney did a great job of shooting and hitting her free throws."

Danielle Bellando paced the Wolves with 14 points, while Brasel followed with 12 points and Danielle Albus and Katie Torland both tallied 10 points each.

The Jacks conclude tournament play against host Northwest Nazarene University Saturday with a 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. pacific) tip-off.

"NNU is a quality team, a west regional team," Gleason said. "We have to beat them in their house. I think it will be a good game."

Newspaper Box Score
Humboldt State vs Western Oregon
11/28/08 2pm at Nampa,Idaho
At Nampa,Idaho
HUMBOLDT STATE 97, WESTERN OREGON 66
HUMBOLDT STATE (4-1)
TAYLOR, Brittney 8-12 5-6 22; FRANCI, Katie 6-11 1-3 13; ENOS, Jennifer 4-6
1-1 12; PETERSON,Paige 5-11 1-1 11; BOBIC, Andrea 2-3 2-2 7; ALABA, Trisha
1-4 4-4 6; KILGORE, Taylor 2-3 0-0 6; HALSEY, Bree 3-6 0-2 6; WILLIAMS,
Kayla 2-2 0-0 5; O'KEEFE, Kristina 2-3 0-0 4; OSBORNE, Luiza 1-2 0-0 3;
ALEXANDER, Sallye 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 37-67 14-19 97.
WESTERN OREGON (2-2)
Bellando,Danielle 5-9 4-4 14; Brasel,Alissa 5-14 2-3 12; Albus,Danielle 4-5
2-2 10; Torland,Katie 4-11 2-2 10; Chase,Whitney 2-10 4-6 8; Corder,Shayla
1-5 2-2 4; Wilson,Erika 2-3 0-0 4; Zahler,Sara 0-2 2-2 2; Nordstrom,Sammy
1-5 0-0 2; Hughes,Kelly 0-1 0-0 0; Goss,Jessica 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-68
18-21 66.
Humboldt State................   47   50  -   97
Western Oregon................   34   32  -   66
3-point goals-Humboldt State 9-16 (ENOS, Jennifer 3-5; KILGORE, Taylor 2-3;
TAYLOR, Brittney 1-1; OSBORNE, Luiza 1-1; WILLIAMS, Kayla 1-1; BOBIC, Andrea
1-2; ALABA, Trisha 0-1; PETERSON,Paige 0-1; FRANCI, Katie 0-1), Western
Oregon 0-11 (Bellando,Danielle 0-3; Torland,Katie 0-4; Corder,Shayla 0-1;
Zahler,Sara 0-1; Goss,Jessica 0-2). Fouled out--Humboldt State-ALEXANDER,
Sallye, Western Oregon-None. Rebounds-Humboldt State 39 (TAYLOR, Brittney
8), Western Oregon 35 (Brasel,Alissa 7). Assists-Humboldt State 22
(PETERSON,Paige 4), Western Oregon 11 (Brasel,Alissa 2; Nordstrom,Sammy 2).
Total fouls-Humboldt State 20, Western Oregon 19. A-93
Game 1 of the Hampton Inn & Suites Thanksgiving Classic