Box Score ARCATA – Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you let one slip away. Humboldt State felt this way as soon as the final buzzer sounded and saw a double-digit lead turn into a three-point loss to rival Chico State.
 
Leading by 11 points with seven minutes to play, the Lumberjacks' offense sputtered and the Wildcats took advantage to outscore them, 19-6, to pull out a 69-66 victory before a full house in Lumberjack Arena.
 
"What a great college atmosphere. It was the best atmosphere you will see in the conference to play in a packed house like we had," said HSU head coach Joddie Gleason. "We didn't make plays at the end to get this one tonight. We just didn't get offensive support when Chico made that run. They hit a huge 3-pointer at the end, but it was just a great game."
 
Trailing 66-64, Chico State (11-5/7-5 California Collegiate Athletic Association) saw Annie Ward's top-of-the-key 3-pointer bounce off the back of the rim and roll through the net for its first lead, 67-66, since 6:31 left in the first half.
 
After two Wildcats' free throws with seven seconds, the Jacks' Jae Shin's game-tying 3-point attempt fell off the front of the iron to end the contest.
 
Kersey Wilcox led HSU with 16 points despite two for 10 night shooting. She made 12 of 12 free throws and pulled down seven rebounds.
 
Dani Gaumer dropped three triples for 14 points to go with three assists and five rebounds. Shin downed four 3-pointers for 12 points, while Megan Shields clutched 10 caroms and swatted two shots. Amanda Kunst chipped in seven points and six rebounds.
 
Chico State received 18 points and nine boards from Jazmine Miller and a double-double from McKenzie Dalthorp of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Wildcats started strong to begin the game with the first 11 points of the night. The margin grew to as many as 13 points, 15-2.
 
HSU (8-8/5-7 CCAA) battled back with a run of its own, 24-8, to go ahead, 26-23, on a Gaumer 3-pointer at 5:41 in the first half. Tied at 30, the Jacks netted 13 of the final 17 points of the stanza for a 43-34 lead.
 
The home advantage increased to 12 points, 60-48, on a Shields 3-point play with 9:49 remaining. The Jacks' offensive inefficiency struck and the Wildcats became efficient on their end.
 
Chico State rattled off the next 13 points over a five-minute span to edge ahead, 61-60, at 4:20. HSU came back for a three-point lead, 64-61, on two Shields free throws and held a 66-64 lead with two minutes to go to set up the ending.
 
"Teams crank it up in the second half and we have to match that effort. Chico does a great job at taking away the first look and we have to do a better job consistently with our second and third looks in the offense," added Gleason.
 
Wilcox concurred. "We have to just keep doing what we are doing in the first half into the second. We prepared well for this game and knew what we needed to do."
 
HSU will have its work cut out starting next week. The second round of CCAA play begins across the league.
 
"We are disappointed with our record and now we have to climb the ladder and knock people off ahead of us," said Gleason.
 
HSU starts its climb up the CCAA next week on the road beginning Friday at Cal State San Bernardino Friday night with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.