ARCATA - After its second home weekend sweep, Humboldt State will need an equally successful final week to reach its California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff goal.
The Lumberjacks helped their cause greatly to keep hope alive with a Lumberjack Arena home swing pair of victories. HSU was able to avenge earlier season road losses with wins over Cal State Los Angeles (66-62) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (66-57).
HSU will have to take its game on the road to complete the regular season and try to end strong with a Friday night affair at rival Chico State, before driving down I-5 for a Saturday evening contest at Cal State Stanislaus.
Following the Action:
Live Audio: socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kataam
Live Video: Friday at Chico State - no video available; Saturday at Cal State Stanislaus - www.youtube.com/warriorathletics
Live Stats: Friday at Chico State - sidearmstats.com/csuchico/wbball/xlive.htm; Saturday at Cal State Stanislaus - www.sidearmstats.com/csustan/wbball/
HSU playoff entry hinges on road success
HSU could see its CCAA playoff hopes come down to the final game of the regular season.
The Jacks sit in a three-way tie with San Francisco State and Cal State Stanislaus at an even 10-10 mark in seventh place. Each of the three teams are two games behind the three of Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Dominguez Hills and UC San Diego with 12-8 records, which are tied for third. Cal State East Bay is between the two deadlocked groups at 11-9.
The final CCAA weekend of games cannot be more important for any of the teams fighting for position and an spot in the league's first time only having a top six playoff field down from eight in years past.
On Friday night: UC San Diego travels to Cal State Los Angeles, an out of contention but surging Cal State San Bernardino team travels to Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay at San Francisco State and Cal Poly Pomona at Cal State Stanislaus along with HSU at Chico State could determine the following night's matchups importance.
Jacks series vs. Wildcats & Warriors
HSU will need to do something is has not accomplished since joining the CCAA – win at Chico State. The Wildcats have prevailed over the Jacks in each of the last five meetings along with a 7-0 mark in Chico. HSU handed Chico St. the earlier season contest after leading by 11 points with seven minutes left on the clock. On Dec. 1, 2012, the Wildcats took away a 64-49 win during the last game played in Chico.
With the lack of success in Chico, HSU has recorded almost as much success when playing in Turlock. The Jacks have won the past two trips into Fitzpatrick Arena including a 72-56 romp on Nov. 30, 2012. Over the past seven trips, HSU has went 5-2. Cal State Stanislaus' last victory in the series came on its home court by an close 81-78 margin on Dec. 4, 2010.
Last week's highlights
vs. Cal State Los Angeles:
After trailing by eight points at half, HSU stormed back for a 66-62 win. Kersey Wilcox netted 16 points including six of the team's final eight points, while handing out seven assists. Amanda Kunst chipped in 15 points and seven boards with Jain Tuey adding 12 points and five caroms.
vs. CSU Dominguez Hills:
On 'Senior Night,' HSU put together one of its best home performances in a 66-57 victory. With five players netting at least nine points, Wilcox, again, led the way with 18 points and six assists. Both Megan Shields and Kelly Kime, who hit three triples, contributed 11 tallies each.
Wilcox set to break HSU free throw made season mark
As has been the case all season, Kersey Wilcox has made a living of making foul shots each night. The junior has connected for 151 of 166 attempts for a league best 91.0% clip. The 151 makes stands just one away from tying her with the current record holder, Dawn Milner (1992-93) at 152.
Scouting Chico State:
• Won nine of its last 11 contests including seven in a row from 1/18 through 2/8
• Split last weekend with a win at Cal State Monterey Bay (64-56) and close loss at Cal State East Bay (63-60)
• Hold a 6-2 record at home including taking the last five in Acker Gym
• Veteran team with four seniors and one junior in starting five
• Top passing team in the CCAA with 15.0 assists per game...also second in free throw percentage (74.8%)
• Possess balanced scoring attack with five players averaging at least nine points per game
• G Jazmine Miller paces the offense with 13.1 ppg and 43 3-pointers made...scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in first meetings vs. HSU
• G Hannah Womack adds 10.8 ppg and 43 triples of her own to go with the 2nd best FT% of 90.6%
• Forwards McKenzie Dalthorp (10.3 ppg and 5.2 rpg) and Analise Riezebos (9.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg) lead the inside game
• PG Courtney Hamilton is the league's top assist person at 6.6 apg and assist/turnover ratio leader at a 2.0 rate
Scouting Cal State Stanislaus:
• Dropped three of its last four contests including being swept last week on the road at Cal State East Bay (92-78) and Cal State Monterey Bay (60-50)
• Since losing at HSU on 1/23, Warriors have went 3-7 over the five-week time period ... only one of the defeats came by less than 10 points – vs. San Francisco State (82-80) on 1/31
• Holds a 6-5 home record for the season including winning its last two games three weeks ago
• Scoring the second most points per game in the CCAA at 70.6 per night.
• Allowing the most points by its opponent in the league of 70.8 ppg ... also the 11th best opponents' field goal percentage of 41.2%
• F Lauren Godde leads the Warriors in most offensive categories including a team-high 14.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per night and 18 blocked shots ... She was the lone double figure players in the game in Arcata with 11 points ... Godde has team-best 76.9 free throw percentage
• Briana Cotton and Jasmine Washington add another pair of double-digit point producers at 11.8 and 10.5 per game ... Cotton has 36 3-pointers and Washington 15 blocked shots
-GoJacks-
