SEATTLE – For the third time in three weeks and at the third different location the Humboldt State women's basketball team faced UC San Diego.  Today the location was the Royal Brougham Pavilion on the campus of Seattle Pacific University and though it wasn't raining outside, senior Brittney Taylor rained a 3-pointer on the Tritons with 1:26 to play that gave the Jacks a 69-65 lead and propelled them to a 76-72 win in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.

With the win the Jacks are now 20-10 overall while UC San Diego finishes its season with a 25-5 record.

Box Score

With HSU clinging to a 66-65 lead and the shot clock running down Taylor threw up a desperation three from the right corner that found the bottom of the net.

“It seems like those shots always happen to the teams we are playing, not us,” Taylor said.  “It was great to see that one go in.”

Taylor finished with a game high 27 points and now sits just one point shy of tying the single season record of 555 set by Jenna Washington in 2005-06.

“Everyone has their ups and downs, but we pulled together at the end and finished realyl strong,” Taylor added. “We showed a lot of character in the last four minutes of the game and got to the free throw line and hit big shots.”

Joining Taylor in double figures were Andrea Bobic, 16 points and 8 rebounds, Lisa Petty had 15, including three 3-pointers in the first half and Paige Peterson added 10 points and 7 assists.

UC San Diego was led by Annette Ilg with 25 points, West Region Player of the Year Chelsea Carlisle finished with 16 and Erin Noonan chipped in 10 points.

UCSD led at the half 34-33 and maintained that one-point advantage through the first five minutes of the second half.  Carlisle scored seven of the next 11 points for the Tritons as they went on an 11-0 run and took a 53-41 lead with 13:06 to pplay.

The Jacks didn't panic and over the next eight minutes whittled the lead down.  Andrea Bobic hit a 3-pointer with 4:48 to tie the score at 62-62.  It was her 79 3-pointer of the season and leaves her one behind Molly Skonieczny on the single-season list. Skonieczny hit 80 three's in the 1994-95 season.

The teams traded buckets until the 2:32 mark when Peterson hit two free throws to give the Jacks a 66-65 lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

Including Peterson's free throws, HSU hit seven of eight in the final three minutes.  None were more crucial than Petty's two with four seconds left and the Jacks clinging to a 74-72 lead. 

“This is the biggest win of the season and a tremendous victory for our program,” head coach Joddie Gleason said.  “Knocking off a national ranked team like (UC) San Diego is huge.  We did a good job of digging deep when they made a run and not panicking.  We made huge plays down the stretch, we got quality shot and made our free throws, especially Lisa Petty's two with a few seconds left.

“She has matured so much as a player and is a huge contributor for us right now.  She sparks us off the bench.  She plays great defense and her offense has been like a dagger in the heart of our opponents.”

HSU will face a familiar foe on Saturday in Chico State.  The Jacks defeated the Wildcats 85-55 last Saturday to win the CCAA Championship and earn the conference's automatic bid.

“This is the easiest scouting I have had to do at a tournament.  Not that the games are easy, but between UCSD and now Chico we are so familiar with them.  Chico gives us fits at the guard position and they are going to be ready for us.  I'm sure the game last Saturday is fresh in their minds.”

Tip off is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN 1340 AM.  Fans can also watch the game on live stats and via webcast through the HSU website.