ARCATA - A layup by Chico State guard Syncro Bull with nine seconds left capped a 20-1 run to end the game and the Wildcats outscored the Jacks 26-7 on the free-throw line to secure a 73-72 win for the Wildcats on Thursday night in Lumberjack Arena.

The loss, the Jacks second in a row, leaves their record at 9-4 overall, 7-2 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.  Chico State improves to 8-4, 5-2 in conference.

Box Score

HSU led 71-53 with 4:39 left to play, but Natasha Smith score 11 of her game-high 31 points and Bull added six more as the Wildcats erased the Jacks lead.

“(At the end of the game) we didn't have enough people on the court that had the mentality to withstand the pressure and the physicality to make a play,” head coach Joddie Gleason said.  “We needed to make one more play.  We couldn't get the ball in bounds, we turned it over, we took a bad shot, we missed free throws, everything you can't do at the end.”

The loss spoils a great performance by the Lumberjacks' Brittney Taylor.  She had a career-high 29 points, on 12-of-19 shooting, and added seven rebounds.  Paige Peterson was the only other Jack to score in double figures, with 10.  Bree Halsey pulled down 10 rebounds and scored eight points and Luiza Osborne tallied a season high nine points to go along with four assists.

“It's tough to win when they shoot 34 free throws and we shoot 12,” Gleason added.  “They were very aggressive down the stretch and were pretty physical, but we didn't make our free throws.

Chico State took a 10-point lead, 13-3, in the first 3:30.  The Jacks battled back over the next six minutes and took their first lead, 16-15, with 9:14 left in the half and led at the break 34-29.

A 7-0 run to open the second half gave HSU a 41-29 lead, but Chico State battled back to 46-44 with 12:21 to play in the game.  Over the next eight minutes the Jacks outscored CSUS 25-9 and led 71-53 with 4:39 to play, before the final run by Chico State.

“Natasha Smith is a real good player,” Gleason said.  “We couldn't keep her off the free-throw line.  She got to the paint to score or got to the line when ever she wanted.  She had no doubt that they were going to win, no matter the score.  I think she was the difference.”