SEATTLE, Wash. – The 2014-15 Humboldt State women's basketball season is off to a running start. The Lumberjacks used an 11-0 run midway through the second half, and rained 13 3-pointers in the game, to upset the No. 21 Vikings of Western Washington, 98-88, Friday afternoon at Seattle Pacific's Sodexo Tip-Off Classic.
 
Trailing 66-65 with 10:56 left in the contest, Neika Puryear, who led all scorers with 19 points, converted two free throws and sank her third 3-pointer of the day to start the key HSU run. Jae Shin and Kersey Wilcox followed with treys of their own to complete the 11-0 run and raced ahead, 76-66. 
 
Western Washington (0-1) cut the margin to four, 87-83, but HSU (1-0) made all seven foul shots in the final two minutes to seal the 10-point victory, 98-88. 
 
"We were able to string a few defensive stops together and hit some big shots (in our key run). We also played smart basketball in the final minutes," said HSU Head Coach Joddie Gleason. "For us to score that many points against such a quality team like Western Washington, it says a lot as defense and rebounding are what they are known for."

HSU's 98 points are its most scored in a game since the 2007-08 season opener, a 105-79 victory over Western Oregon. The Jacks also improved to 8-3 in season openers under Gleason. 
 
As a team, HSU connected on 13-of-23 triples. In the second half, the Jacks drained 7-of-12 3-point attempts and made 15-of-17 free throws.
 
In her first HSU game, Puryear put on a show. The junior transfer scored 10 first half points and added nine second half points to total her 19. She went 6-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
 
"Neika gave us a nice spark. She is a great shooter and quick," said Gleason. "It was a great first game for her. We expect big games from her this year."
 
Puryear was not the only Lumberjack with a big day. Kersey Wilcox and A'Jaee Foster recorded double-doubles in their top opening day lines.
 
Wilcox had a slow start to the day, but she made up for it in the second half. After a two-point first half, the senior hit 5-of-6 tries and downed all three of her long-range tries for 16 of her 18-point afternoon. The senior also handed out a career-best 10 assists.
 
"Kersey ran the show and set up our offense very well today," said Gleason. "She was frustrated at halftime, but she is a real competitor and played the whole second half."
 
After a double-double in the team's exhibition game two weeks ago, Foster produced another one. The forward scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. She also stole three passes and assisted on three buckets.
 
Despite a tough first half, center Megan Shields came up big in the final minutes. Shields went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final 3:44 and grabbed two of her four rebounds in the last minute. She finished with 12 points.
 
"Megan had all six of her free throws. She played only 14 minutes, but made huge free throws down the stretch. I love when kids can be mentally tough like she was today," said the HSU coach.
 
Nikki Powell added eight points and three boards on the inside. HSU outrebounded Western Washington, 36-30, in the contest.
 
"We gave up a few offensive rebounds to them (Western Washington), but A'Jaee, Megan and Nikki secured the rebounds down the stretch," said Gleason.
 
Shin was the fifth Lumberjack to hit double digits. The shooting guard drilled 4-of-6 triples for 14 points. Dani Gaumer chipped in eight points, all in the first half.
 
HSU enjoyed its largest lead of four points, 16-12, on a Shin 3-pointer halfway through the first half. Western Washington scored the next six points and held a two-point, 44-42, intermission advantage.
 
Shin started the second half with a triple and Foster added back-to-back layups for a 49-44 lead in the opening three minutes.
 
The Vikings battled back to edge ahead, 66-65, on a Tia Briggs inside jump shot at 10:56. The Jacks answered with their 11-0 run over the next 3:23 and never trailed again.
 
Western Washington's Katie Colard and Briggs paced its production with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Colard downed four 3-pointers and Briggs grabbed nine rebounds.
 
HSU completes its opening road weekend Saturday afternoon. The Jacks face the host Falcons of Seattle Pacific in a 5 p.m. tipoff.