ARCATA - When the season has only six games remaining, each game is important for postseason playoff hopes. Humboldt State enters a crucial road weekend trip at San Francisco State and Sonoma State, which can go a long way in determining its California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff fate.
The Lumberjacks produced a solid victory over Cal State East Bay (71-64) only to have one of their toughest results in a 70-63 defeat last Saturday night to Cal State Monterey Bay.
HSU returns to the road after the week at home beginning on Friday night in The Swamp at San Francisco State and follow with a contest at Sonoma State.
Live Audio: socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kataam
Live Video:
Friday at SFSU - www.sfstategators.com/sports/2013/10/2/LIVE_VIDEO.aspx
Saturday at Sonoma St. - www.ustream.tv/channel/sonoma-state-seawolves
Live Stats:
Friday at SFSU - www.sidearmstats.com/sfsu/wbball/xlive.htm
Saturday at Sonoma St. - sidearmstats.com/sonoma/wbball/
HSU wants to repeat earlier meetings and road success against rivals
With a sweep of the weekend's games five weeks ago, HSU wants to repeat the success of the earlier meetings with San Francisco State and Sonoma State this weekend.
The Jacks also want to keep their recent road success against these two rivals going.
Against the Gators, the Jacks claimed the high-scoring, 93-85, affair on Jan. 11 in Arcata. HSU received 15-plus points from four players including 19 points from Dani Gaumer to lead the way, while Jae Shin dropped 17 tallies of her own including five triples. Lauren Varney and Angela Van Sickel paced the Gators with 20 points apiece. The two clubs both shot 49.2-percent and combined for 19 3-pointers and only 20 turnovers.
In the series at The Swamp, HSU takes a five-game winning streak in the facility. The Jacks produced a 67-50 win last Feb. 23. In fact, HSU has won the last five games on San Francisco State's home floor by an average of 8.2 points with 17-point wins in each of the past two. The Gators last home win over the Jacks came on Jan. 11, 2008 by a 68-55 total.
In the other series, HSU battled back for a late game win over Sonoma State, 75-69, on Jan. 9. Point guard Kersey Wilcox recorded the big game of 25 points on six of 12 shooting and nine of 10 free throws with seven rebounds and three steals. The Seawolves put five players in double figures with Hannah Sourek's 15 points leading their effort.
Sonoma State pulled out a 71-60 win in last year's meeting in Rohnert Park on Jan. 22 to end HSU's five-game winning streak in The Wolves' Den. The Jacks won the previous game on Dec. 31, 2011, 55-44. The HSU five-game win streak was by an average of 11 points.
Coach Gleason focusing her team for the big two-game week
After a disappointing Saturday night defeat, HSU head coach Joddie Gleason will look to refocus her crew for this weekend's crucial pair of games.
Gleason's comments: "Competing, I felt our team wasn't focused to do things necessary to winning games. Us as coaches, we need to do things to motivate our players, to compete better and play harder."
Last week's highlights
vs. East Bay:
Against a team that won rather convincing in the earlier meeting, HSU went out to an eight-point first half lead and eventual seven-point win, 71-64. In a quiet performance, Kersey Wilcox made seven-of-13 shots for 20 points to go with five assists, three steals and three rebounds. Megan Shields added 16 points, seven boards and two steals. Amanda Kunst continued her solid later season play with 15 points and nine caroms.
vs. Monterey Bay
In a game much more difficult to find HSU highlights, the home club had it lowest shooting percentage of recent weeks. HSU made only 20 of 60 attempts (33.3%). Shields led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Wilcox had 15 points and six assists.
Shin and Wilcox move up the HSU top 10 single season lists
Kersey Wilcox's 129 made free throws is now the third most for a Jacks' season. The junior is only 23 away from tying the program record of 152 set by Dawn Milner (1992-93).
Jae Shin has knocked down 56 3-point attempts is 8th-best, one better than current assistant coach Lisa Petty made last season. Shin can move up to fourth this weekend as she needs four more to surpass Molly Skonieczny (1993-94), who had 59.
HSU players among the CCAA leaders
•Kersey Wilcox -- 1st in Free Throws/game (6.4 made), 1st in 3FG% (44.4%), 1st Free Throw% (92.1), 2nd in assists (4.9 apg) & 3rd in scoring (16.6 ppg)
•Jae Shin -- 1st 3FG/game (2.8) & 2nd in 3FG% (40.0%)
•Megan Shields -- 1st in blocks (2.6 bpg -- 51), 4th in defensive rebounding (5.4 rpg), 5th in field goal percentage (50.9%) and 7th in rebounding (7.5 rpg)
•Jessica Johnson - 4th Asst/Turnover ratio (1.7)
•Dani Gaumer - 11th in 3FG/G (1.6)
Scouting San Francisco State:
• Made a habit of winning the first game and losing the second in each of the last four pair of games
• The win-loss pattern continued a week ago by defeating CSU Dominguez Hills (66-53) and losing to Cal State Los Angeles (67-55)
• Have not won back-to-back games since the first four games of December – all home games
• Lost more than one game in a row two times with the last coming in a string of three in a row from Jan. 4 through 11 – last one of the three games coming at Humboldt State
• Paced by three double figure scorers – Katie Batlin (14.8 ppg), Angela Van Sickel (13.3 ppg) and Lauren Varney (11.2 ppg).
-Against CSU Dominguez Hills, the three combined for 39 points in the victory.
-The next night the trio of Gators made only 13 of 38 shots for 40 points in the loss to Cal State Los Angeles.
• Batlin rates in the CCAA's top 10 in four categories including leading in steals (2.8 spg), while 4th in rebounding (7.9 rpg), fifth in assists (3.7 apg) and seventh in scoring (14.8 ppg)
• Head coach Joddie Gleason on the Gators: "It will be a huge game for us since we are tied with San Francisco. Getting the tiebreaker advantage could potentially play out on who get into the top six (for the CCAA playoffs).
They play very well always and especially at home. Their players really can shoot the ball well. They also have multiple players off the bench who can shoot off the perimeter.
(Katie) Batlin being a good player and the center of the attack, they have every weapon they need."
Scouting Sonoma State:
• Have only one victory since the calendar turned 2014 covering 12 games (1-11) – lone win came in a 71-58 at Cal State Stanislaus on Feb. 1.
• Suffered a pair of home defeats last weekend to Cal State Los Angeles (66-54) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (79-53)
• Produced 70-plus points only two of 20 contests and six games with at least 60 points
- Team's three wins have come when scoring 68, 69 and 71 points
• Hold a 2-8 home record at The Wolves' Den
• Stand 11th of 12 teams in CCAA in scoring at 55.0 ppg
- Committing the highest number of turnovers at 17.2 tpg and lowest in rebounding margin at -8.7
• Three inside players – Kristina Fahey, Bronte Sheahan and Hannah Sourek – are the leading point producers
• F Kristina Fahey averages a team-best 9.9 ppg as well as leading in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and assists (48)
• F Bronte Sheahan nets 9.7 ppg.
• C Hannah Sourek stands at 8.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg
• Tanner Adams paces the team with 30 made 3-pointers
• Head coach Joddie Gleason on the Seawolves: "Sonoma is a really balanced team if you look at their scoring. They have three people around 10 points per game.
You can't focus on any one or two players as they are a very good at team basketball.
Typically, you can't execute your offense until their defense breaks down.
They had a recent win over at Cal State Stanislaus, which is impressive. It is anyone's game in the conference matches."
