Box Score SAN BERNARDINO – Any good team bounces back from a tough and emotional loss in its last game. Humboldt State accomplished the task behind center Megan Shields and her teammates making the needed plays Friday night.
 
Shields powered the Lumberjacks second half with 11 of her game-high 18 points offensively and spurred the defensive effort for a 61-51 victory over the Coyotes of CSU San Bernardino.
 
"At halftime, we talked about having the courage to make plays to stop their run whether it is with a steal, rebound or flat out making a shot," said HSU head coach Joddie Gleason. "I thought we did that in the second half when San Bernardino made its run and closed the gap."
 
The HSU (9-8) win completes its first California Collegiate Athletic Association sweep of an opponent and improves to 6-7 in league action. The Jacks won the first meeting by a 73-61 final on Dec. 7.
 
Shields finished the second half strong to put the game away. The junior post player banked home a layup and two possessions later grabbed her fourth offensive rebound for another bucket of the team's final eight points. The 6-1 Shields made five of nine shots and eight of 11 from the foul line for her 18 points. She added eight total rebounds, a career-best five steals, three blocked shots and an assist.
 
"Megan was one who made plays in the second half by offensive rebounds and getting fouled as well as drawing double teams," noted Gleason. "It was a great night for her offensively and defensively, she was very active in the zone."
 
"The win helps us a lot for a boost of confidence. We attacked a lot and were able to have control of the ball. It was really a team effort," added Shields of the HSU win.
 
Kersey Wilcox helped ice the contest with four of four free throws in the final two minutes to complete her evening with 12 points to go with four assists.
 
Jae Shin hit for eight points with a pair of 3-pointers, while Amanda Kunst also had eight tallies. Kunst also pulled down seven caroms and handed out three assists.
 
Kelly Kime contributed seven points and five assists and Elle Anderson six points wrapped up the HSU leaders.
 
Midway through the first half leading by one point, the Jacks netted the next 11 points and 14 of 15 points to open a 21-10 lead including two baskets by Wilcox, Anderson and Shields.
 
The Coyotes (4-12/3-10 CCAA) came back with their own spurt. The home club ran off 14 unanswered points to tie the contest at 25 with nine seconds.
 
Kunst, though, made sure HSU had the intermission advantage with a jumper at the buzzer and 27-25 score.
 
Trailing 33-31, Shields was fouled on back-to-back possessions. She made the first pair and one of the second to give HSU a 34-33 lead with 11:44 to go.
 
Shin drained her first of two triples of the second 20 minutes to follow and the Jacks would total a 10-0 run for a 41-33 margin and never lose the advantage over the final eight minutes.
 
Alexcia Mack paced CSU San Bernardino with 13 points and Trinidee Trice had 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
HSU will seek its first CCAA road sweep of the year tomorrow night in a 5:30 p.m. contest at UC San Diego in La Jolla, Calif.
 
"It was huge to win the first game and is important to build confidence and momentum against a tough challenge tomorrow," added Gleason.