GAMEDAY CENTRAL
LIVE STATS  /  LIVE AUDIO  / LIVE VIDEO

HSU SOCIAL MEDIA
TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

FULL GAME NOTES

ARCATA, Calif. – After ending 2014 winners of its last seven games, Humboldt State aims to continue its winning run in to the New Year at home with a pair of games this week.
     The Lumberjacks bring in the New Year as they host the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday night, before they complete the weekend with a Saturday contest against Cal State Los Angeles. Both games tip at 5:30 p.m. in Lumberjack Arena.

       Starting the week's matchups, HSU (8-1) and Cal State Dominguez (9-3) hold the top two CCAA win totals over the first two months of the 2014-15 season.

     "We are off to a real nice start. Certainly, there is a long way to go," said HSU assistant coach Skip Gleason. "It was nice to go into the holiday break with the number of days off and hopefully, there will be no drop off when we come back."

     Following the mandated NCAA Division II week off, the Jacks take the court on New Year's night, the first time the program played on the first day on the calendar.

     "It's probably the quickest turnaround we have had with just three days of practice until we play Thursday night. The NCAA has a certain number of days you are required to be off, so everyone is in the same boat," said Skip Gleason. "We're a veteran group of juniors and senior and (Cal State) Dominguez Hills is the same with most of its team back. Both teams will be ready."

      After completing the season sweep of Cal State San Bernardino on Dec. 20, HSU ran its winning run to seven games.

     "Those were two quality wins as they (Cal State San Bernardino) had not lost going into that first weekend. We were able to back up the first performance with an even better performance down at their place, which is a real credit to our kids to go after it one last time before the break," said Skip Gleason.

     In Head Coach Joddie Gleason's 11 years, her team's current seven-game win streak rates as the second longest of her tenure. The current winning run is the longest since the 2008-09 squad ran off 10 in a row from Feb. 6 to Mar. 6, 2009.

     "Every game is the biggest game of the year. That is the mentality we have been trying to sell the team," said Skip Gleason.

     HSU also has an impressive 14.3-point per game scoring margin in its seven-game win streak. The Jacks have won each of the seven games by no less than 10 points. HSU's season-opening victory came by 10 points, as well, for a 13.8 ppg margin in its eight wins.

     The Jacks have not had any of their eight games decided by less than nine points. The squad's lone defeat was a nine-point overtime difference at Seattle Pacific in game two.
 
FINAL TWO CCAA UNBEATENS BATTLE THURSDAY
     For the second time in nine seasons since joining the CCAA, HSU has started the CCAA schedule with a 4-0 record.

     HSU faces the other remaining 4-0 CCAA team in Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday night. The Toros swept Cal State Los Angeles and posted single victories over Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus.

     "(Cal State) Dominguez Hills is athletic, shoots the ball well and is well-coached. They will be a big test for us Thursday night," said the HSU assistant coach.

     The Jacks' best CCAA start came in 2009-10. The team rattled off wins in the first seven contests, before it finished 14-8 on the year.
 
READY TO ADD TO HOME SUCCESSES
     Over the past eight seasons, HSU has a great amount of home success against this week's two CCAA foes. The Jacks hold a combined 13-3 record against the Toros and Golden Eagles.

     Against Cal State Dominguez Hills, HSU has a 7-1 Lumberjack Arena advantage. The Jacks claimed the first six meetings, before the Toros won   (64-49) on Feb. 27, 2013. HSU won 66-57 in the last contest on Feb. 22, 2014.

    Cal State Los Angeles won one more time than its travel partner. The Golden Eagles are 6-2 in Lumberjack Arena with a season-ending victory (76-70) on Mar. 1, 2013 as their last win. HSU won 66-62 last Feb. 20, 2014.
 
JACKS RECEIVING NATIONAL CONSIDERATION   
     HSU is amongst the CCAA teams receiving NCAA Division II national-ranking consideration.

     The Jacks received a season-high 40 points in the Others Receiving Votes list of the USA TODAY DII Top 25 Coaches Poll last released on Dec. 16. Cal Poly Pomona was the top CCAA rated team with 77 and Cal State San Bernardino had 30.

     In the inaugural D2SIDA Women's Basketball Division II Media Poll, HSU has moved into a tie for No. 22 with Assumption (Mass.).
 
CLAMPING DOWN ON FOES
     After starting slow against some potent offensive teams, the HSU defense has started to take root over its last four games. Over the past four contests, the Jacks' defenders have held their opponents to 198 total points, a 49.5-point per game average and three-straight games of 50 or fewer points.

     HSU has decreased its points per game allowed average by 11.4 ppg – 75.2 ppg over the first five games and 49.5 ppg since – to 63.8 ppg for the nine games of the season.

     HSU's 63.8 ppg allowed is now fifth in the CCAA ranks. The Jacks' unit faces Cal State Dominguez Hills, which has the third-best CCAA average of 72.1 ppg. Cal State Los Angeles has a 61.9-point average to its credit. The two upcoming CCAA foes are also the top two offensive rebounding teams (CSUDH - 1st (16.7 rpg) and CSULA - 2nd (13.9 rpg).
 
LOOK TO RETURN TO SCORING PUNCH
     The Jacks look to regain their scoring punch at the friendly Lumberjack Arena baskets this weekend. As the team's defensive unit has progressed, HSU has seen its offensive averages decrease – 82.2 ppg over the first six games down to 75.0 ppg, a CCAA-best average.

     In three home games, HSU holds a 79.3 ppg average in contests against Hope International, Dominican and Cal State San Bernardino.
 
BATTLE OF CCAA's TOP 3-POINT SHOOTING TEAMS AND SHOOTERS
     The long-range shots will be flying from behind the arc Thursday night in Lumberjack Arena. The CCAA's top two 3-point shooting teams – HSU and Cal State Dominguez Hills – will be dueling.

     The two opponents enter the New Year tied for the most 3-pointers made with 66 apiece. The Jacks have the same total in three fewer games and average 7.3 made per contest. The Toros hit at a 5.5 made per game pace.

     HSU also has the top team 3-point field goal percentage of 36.9 percent (66-of-179). Cal State Dominguez Hills rates third with a 31.7 percentage (66-for-208) clip.

     The Toros' Tayler Champion leads the league with 33 treys made. She made her 33 3-pointers in 87 attempts (37.9 percent). Second to Champion, the Jacks' Jae Shin has downed 27 of her 56 3-point tries. Shin tops the conference's shooters in 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and 3-point percentage (48.2 percent).
 
Scouting Cal State Dominguez Hills:
• Coached by Molly Goodenbour – in her 3rd year and has a 38-30 record
• Toros won the CCAA Tournament title last season and finished with a 20-10 record
• Won last seven games after a 2-3 start to its season
• Swept Cal State Los Angeles and Simon Fraser in two back-to-back game series
• HSU holds a 12-10 advantage in the all-time series
• Split season series with HSU last season with both winning on its home court – DH 79-61 (1-17-14) and HSU 66-57 (2-22-14)
• Toros are 1-7 in Arcata since HSU joined the CCAA eight years ago. The only win came on Feb. 27, 2013 in a 64-49 final
• DH is 5-11 in same eight years vs. HSU
• Tied with HSU with most 3-pointers made in CCAA of 66 (5.5 per game)
• Made the most free throws in CCAA (129)
• Top rebounding team of 44.0 rpg and +8.8 rebounding margin
• Four players average in double figures and five players average at least 5.8 rebounds
• G Breanne Garcia leads team and 3rd in CCAA at 16.1 ppg
• G Monay Lee averages 10.1 ppg
• F Tayler Champion has 33 3-pointers, 13.0 ppg and 6.1 rpg
• G Talia Rayford tops rebounders (6.9 rpg)
 
Scouting Cal State Los Angeles:
• Coached by Carter Shaw – in his 1st year after 16 years at the NCAA DI level. He was most recently an assistant at UC Riverside
• Golden Eagles finished 17-11 overall and tied for 4th in the CCAA standings
• Swept Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State, before it dropped both matchups with Cal State Dominguez Hills
• HSU holds a 11-9 advantage in the all-time series
• Split season series with HSU last season with both winning on its home court – LA 77-63 (1-18-14) and HSU 66-62 (2-20-14)
• Golden Eagles are 2-6 in Arcata since HSU joined the CCAA eight years ago. Their last win came on Mar. 1, 2013 in a 76-70 final
• LA is 6-10 in same eight years vs. HSU
• LA is 2nd in CCAA in both offensive rebounding (13.9 rpg) and steals (9.1 spg)
• Team is 4th in CCAA rebounding (42.4 rpg)
• Have not scored more than 73 points in and of its eight games
• G Bree Parsons is 2nd in 3-point percentage (45.0%)
• G Kaija Powell leads LA in scoring at 13.9 ppg