ARCATA - Following two difficult ends of games, Humboldt State returns home for its final pair of games in Lumberjack Arena of the 2013-14 season.
The Lumberjacks saw two eerily similar games where leads went up in thin and the games decided by a combined three points at San Francisco State (72-70) and Sonoma State (56-55).
HSU has plenty of incentive this weekend. The Jacks want to rebound from road losses to both foes – Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills, keep their California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff hopes alive and send off their three seniors with a final pair of victories on their home floor.
Following the Action:
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HSU aims to turnaround series trends
HSU will welcome arguably the two toughest CCAA women's basketball travel partners to Lumberjack Arena this week.
Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills bring hard-charging squads, who hit the glass harder than any other CCAA team not wearing the same uniform.
The upcoming Jacks opposition has combined to prevail in seven of the past eight meetings. Cal State Los Angeles holds a three-game win streak and Cal State Dominguez Hills has a four-game run over HSU. The last Jacks wins against the two league members came on the same home weekend two years ago on Feb.9 and 11, 2012.
In Los Angeles, HSU went out to a 24-13 lead, but did not score the rest of the half to trail, 30-24. CSULA also netted the first 10 second half points on its way to the 77-63 win. Destinee La Fountain lead the Golden Eagles with 11 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks. Amanda Kunst scored 16 points for HSU.
At Carson the night before, the Toros went out to a 40-24 advantage before defeating the Jacks, 79-61. CSUDH put five players in double figures with Tayler Champion having a game-best 16 points. Jain Tuey paced HSU with 13 points and three 3-pointers.
Three HSU seniors wrap up Lumberjack Arena careers
HSU's Elle Anderson, Kelly Kime and Jain Tuey will play in their final two games in Lumberjack Arena. The three Jacks have donned the Green & Gold over a combined 11 seasons.
In her fifth-year, Kime has scored 510 points, downed 54 3-pointers and grabbed 369 rebounds. Anderson has totals of 376 points and 354 rebounds, while Tuey has 170 points in two years.
"We are excited to honor three seniors this year. They are all team captains as well as significant nightly contributors on the court," said HSU coach Joddie Gleason.
Last week's highlights
at San Francisco State:
Leading by eight, 68-60, the home Gators tied the game, before scoring four of the final six points for the 72-70 win. Kelly Kime led HSU with 18 points with Amanda Kunst pulling down a career-high 13 rebounds.
at Sonoma State
On Saturday, HSU enjoyed a 10-point second half lead only to have SSU's Kristina Fahey make two free throws with four seconds to go for a 56-55 win. Kersey Wilcox had top HSU honors with 15 points.
Shin and Wilcox move up the HSU top 10 single season lists
Kersey Wilcox's 137 made free throws ties her with Britney Taylor (2009-10) for second most for a Jacks' season. The junior is only 15 away from tying the program record of 152 set by Dawn Milner (1992-93).
Jae Shin has knocked down 56 3-point attempts for 8th-best.
HSU players among the CCAA leaders
•Kersey Wilcox -- 1st in Free Throws/game (6.2 made), 2nd in 3FG% (40.7%), 2nd Free Throw% (90.7%), 2nd in assists (4.9 apg) & 3rd in scoring (16.2 ppg)
•Jae Shin -- 1st 3FG/game (2.5) & 3rd in 3FG% (39.4%)
•Megan Shields -- 1st in blocks (2.5 bpg -- 54), 5th in defensive rebounding (5.4rpg), 5th in field goal percentage (50.5%) and 8th in rebounding (7.3 rpg)
•Jessica Johnson - 3rd Asst/Turnover ratio (1.7)
•Dani Gaumer - 9th in 3FG/G (1.6)
Scouting Cal State Los Angeles:
• Had its five-game winning streak snapped last Saturday to Cal State Stanislaus (73-66)
• Won seven of nine games starting with the first win over HSU (77-63)
• Hold a 6-3 mark in road CCAA games and claimed the last two games two weeks ago
• CCAA's top defensive rebounding team (29.7 rpg) and shot blocking squad (4.1 bpg)
Defense is holding team to a league-low 34.8-percent
• G Paige Melville leads team at 14.4 ppg with 39 3-pointers...making 38.3-percent of 3-point attempts and handing out 53 assists.
• C Destine La Fountain is the premiere inside player of the CCAA...she is the lone league player to average a double-double of 10.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg, while second in blocks at 1.8 bpg
• G Aiwekhoe Okungbowa is the third nine-plus point player at 9.3 ppg...she makes 49.3-percent from the field...the 5-5 player also pulls down 6.0 rpg.
• F Alisha Belt nets half her shots (66 of 132)
• HSU head coach Joddie Gleason on the Golden Eagles and Toros weekend:
"In this point, every game is important. First up on the slate, our focus is on LA and then Dominguez Hills. Both teams are above us in the rankings and knocked us off the first time. We want to try to even the series with both of them at home."
Scouting Cal State Dominguez Hills:
• Had a short two-game winning run end on Saturday night in a 54-51 home defeat to Chico State
• Won six of its last eight contests including a four-game win streak
• Holds a 5-4 record away from the Torodome this season
• Have not lost two games in a row this season
• Posted two four-game or more win streaks with a six-game run to finish December and start the New Year
• Trying to extend its winning streak in the series vs. HSU to four games
• Toros are the top overall rebounding team of the CCAA
- Lead the league in total rebounds per game (44.0 rpg), offensive rebounds per game (17.0 rpg) and rebound margin per game (+8.1)
• Defensively, CSUDH keeps opponents to a CCAA-low 60.5 ppg
• Average a conference best 14.4 turnovers per night.
• Four of Toros five starters average over eight points per night
• Monay Lee and Taylor Champion are one of the top one-two scoring combinations of the 12-team league
Lee paces the team at 15.0 ppg and grabs 6.9 rebounds per evening.
Champion stands second in the CCAA with 2.4 3-pointers made per game and third in rebounding (8.2 rpg) ... The junior averages 14.0 ppg and makes 87.2-percent of her foul shots
• G Talia Rayford comes off the bench and averages double figures as well (11.1 ppg)
