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     ARCATA, Calif. – After it posted a perfect opening California Collegiate Athletic Association weekend, Humboldt State begins its home league schedule against the last undefeated team, Cal State San Bernardino.

     The Lumberjacks (6-1) begin their back-to-back travel partner contests against the Coyotes (6-0) Saturday night in a 7 p.m. contest.
      For the first time, HSU and Cal State San Bernardino will take to the court for back-to-back games. The two CCAA members became travel partners this season. The travel partners play in Arcata this Saturday, Dec. 13, before they complete the season series in San Bernardino next Saturday, Dec. 20.

     "(Cal State) San Bernardino has some quality wins against top West Region teams. It should be a great game," said HSU Head Coach Joddie Gleason. "We hope to be to play our game and slow them down enough as they are strong offensively. Coach (Renee) Jimenez is a great defensive coach. It will be two of the top teams in the region playing against one another."

     In an even series overall after 18 all-time meetings, HSU holds a slight 9-7 advantage since joining the CCAA against Cal State San Bernardino.

     Over the last six seasons, the Jacks-Coyotes series has been all sweeps of the two league contests. HSU swept four of the last six season series including both meetings a year ago (73-61 in Arcata and 61-51 in San Bernardino). The Jacks also claimed season sweeps in 2011-12, 2009-10 and 2008-09.

     The Coyotes produced a pair of 2012-13 victories (42-41 in Arcata and 63-50 at San Bernardino), their last wins in the series. Cal State San Bernardino also won both 2010-11 season matchups and the CCAA playoff meeting along with the 2006-07 contests.

     In 2007-08, each team won on its home floor as the lone season split over the past eight years.
 
ADD TO CCAA HOME-OPENER RECORD

     HSU looks to add to its CCAA home-opener record Saturday night. The Jacks hold a 6-2 mark in the eight home openers since they joined the league.

     UC San Diego stopped an HSU two-game winning streak, 71-63, last Dec. 5 in the CCAA opener in Lumberjack Arena.

     HSU produced victories in the 2012-13 and 2011-12 openers. The Jacks also ran off four-straight victories from 2006-07 through 2009-10 for their league home-opening games. HSU's lone other defeat came against Sonoma State in the 2010-11 campaign.
 
SWEEP OF CCAA OPENING WEEKEND

     HSU started its CCAA schedule with a road sweep last weekend. For the third time, the Jacks opened their CCAA schedule a perfect 2-0. HSU won its first three CCAA games in 2012-13 and opening five contests in 2009-10.

     "I was excited. Any wins in the CCAA are big ones. Every win is relished. We really have to think one game at a time," said Gleason. "Our defense really improved, especially at Sonoma State, after relying so much on the offense lately. We ground out some wins with getting some stops when we needed."

      Dani Gaumer and Megan Shields combined for 36 points to lead the Lumberjacks over San Francisco State, 73-57, last Friday night. Gaumer dropped three 3-pointers in each half for 18 points and Shields posted 18 points inside to pace the Jacks' attack. After seeing its lead cut to a single point at half, HSU opened the second half on a 10-2 run. The Jacks added two more runs of at least seven-straight points and never was challenged again by host San Francisco State.

      Behind A'Jaee Foster's 15 points and 20 rebounds, the Jacks posted a 61-49 win at Sonoma State Saturday. HSU outscored Sonoma State, 14-5, in the final six minutes of the first half to take a 31-26 halftime advantage. Foster scored six of her 12 second-half points in the first eight minutes to help the Jacks record a 13-4 start of the second period for a 44-30 lead. The HSU run propelled it to the 12-points win over the Seawolves.

 EQUAL ONE OF BEST STARTS UNDER GLEASON
     After winning both games last weekend, HSU equaled one of the three best starts to a season under Head Coach Joddie Gleason. During Gleason's 11 seasons, the Jacks have started at least 6-1 now for the third time.
     The best season start came three years ago at 9-1. This season, HSU's 6-1 start ties its 2011-12 start. In those other two seasons, HSU finished with 19-8 and 20-11 final records.
 
BOTH TEAMS RECEIVING NATIONAL CONSIDERATION   
     Along with being two of the five 2-0 CCAA teams, HSU and Cal State San Bernardino are amongst the teams receiving NCAA Division II national-ranking consideration.

     Both squads rate in the Others Receiving Votes list of the USA TODAY DII Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Coyotes received 96 votes and the Jacks garnered 21 votes. Cal Poly Pomona leads the CCAA vote-getting members at No. 25 and 111 votes.
 
GLEASON BECOMES HSU'S WINNINGEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
     In her 11^th season, Jacks' Head Coach Joddie Gleason became the program's all-time winningest coach last Friday night. Gleason captured her 170^th victory in 287 career games directing the Lumberjack program in the victory at San Francisco State.  She added her second victory of the weekend Saturday night to improve to 171-117 at the helm.

     "The honor is not mine alone," said Gleason. "The entire coaching staff helped lead the program since I have been here, and the players we bought in. It is a reflection of how great of players, who have played here. It is a great staff and team accomplishment."
 
SHIELDS CONTINUES TO ESTABLISH HERSELF

     After a solid season a year ago, senior center Megan Shields continues to establish herself as one of the CCAA's premiere inside players.

     The Sherwood, Ore., native leads the Jacks with a 15.3-point average, a .567 field goal percentage (38-for-67) and 13 blocked shots. She has scored at least 12 points in six of the team's seven games, 14-plus in the last five.

     The post player ranks in the CCAA's top 10 in seven statistical categories. She leads the league in blocks per game (1.9 bpg), fourth in field goal percentage, fifth in field goals made per game (5.4) and sixth in points per game.

     In the first CCAA weekend, the center averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Against San Francisco State, Shields posted her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. On the next night, the senior added 15 points and four boards.
 
FOSTER PULLS DOWN THE BOARDS

     Rebounding is quickly becoming A'Jaee Foster's calling card. The forward has pulled down 76 rebounds in seven games with double figure totals in four of HSU's seven contests.

     The junior transfer from Los Angeles Valley College ranks third in the CCAA at 10.9 rebounds per night. She is also second in offensive rebounding (4.4 rpg) and third on the defensive side (6.4 rpg).

     Foster missed tying a Jacks' single-game record by three rebounds last Saturday. She posted 20 rebounds to go with 15 points at Sonoma State. Foster also grabbed 11 boards and scored eight points the night before at San Francisco State. For the weekend, the inside player averaged 11.5 points and 15.5 rebounds.
 
Scouting Cal State San Bernardino:

• Coached by Renee Jimenez – in her second year directing the Coyotes. She has a 15-16 record over her first 31 games.
     Jimenez moved down to San Bernardino after leading Cal State Monterey Bay for five years (2008-13). She took the Otters to one CCAA regular season and tournament title along with three NCAA tournament appearances
• Coyotes are off to their best start in program history of 6-0
• Won all six games by an average of 12 points
• Claimed victories over Sonoma State (70-52) and San Francisco State (64-53) last weekend.
• Tied with HSU at 9-9 in the 18 meetings
• HSU holds a 9-8 edge since were CCAA programs. CSUSB won the one CCAA playoff meeting during the 2010-11 season.
• Lead the CCAA in points allowed per game (59.0 ppg) and defensive rebounds per game (32.0 rpg)
• Rates fourth in league scoring (71.0 ppg)
• All-CCAA Alexcia Mack leads the team with a 13.7 ppg average. She is first in CCAA with a .533 3-point percentage (8-for-15) and seventh in assists per game (3.3 apg)
• F Brianna Harden, a transfer from San Francisco State, is second in CCAA rebounding (11.2 rpg) and ninth in scoring (13.3 ppg)
• F Adriana Brodie is league's top offensive rebounder (4.8 rpg) and fourth in overall rebounding (9.0 rpg)