ARCATA, Calif. – In the closest game of the team's 12-game win streak, Humboldt State women's basketball outlasted a furious Cal State East Bay comeback and needed a last-second Megan Shields steal for the 68-66 home victory Thursday night.
 
Trailing 55-40 halfway through the second half, the visiting Pioneers went on a 16-1 run over a five-minute period to pull within a single point, 57-56, at 5:10. The California Collegiate Athletic Association-leading Lumberjacks held tough and maintained a four-point lead, 68-64, on an A'Jaee Foster layup with 31 seconds remaining.
 
After a jump ball gave the Pioneers possession with 5.1 seconds left, Cal State East Bay's Stephanie Lopez drove down the right sideline through three home defenders only to have Shields swipe the ball for the steal as time expired for the HSU 68-66 victory.
 
With the victory, the Jacks extended their win streak to 12 games and improved to 13-1 overall. The HSU win was also its 13^th CCAA victory in as many games. The Jacks are now 9-0 in conference. Cal State East Bay suffered its fourth loss in a row and fell to 9-6 overall and 4-5 in CCAA play.
 
"I am happy we found a way to win," said HSU Head Coach Joddie Gleason. "(Cal State) East Bay played hard and made a run in the second half. We regrouped and made plays down the stretch and answered them. It was important we never lost the lead. Our team plays until there is no time left."
 
The two-point HSU victory was its closest win of the current 12-game winning stretch. HSU posted an 89-84 win at Chico State last Friday night as the other close win.
 
"Our depth came into play as our bench was very competitive when they are in the game," said Gleason. "This one was not as pretty as other games, but that is a tribute to Cal State East Bay's defense as our offense was not as free flowing. We found other ways to score because of their defense."
 
Off the strength of four 3-pointers, Jae Shin paced the HSU attack with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. She added two steals and a blocked shot.
 
"Kersey (Wilcox) and Neika (Puryear) found me off the pass and on the dribble to get the ball to me at the right time," said Shin. "We have the experience to be calm down the stretch and make plays when we need it."
 
Despite second-half foul trouble, Foster netted 16 points on 5-of-6 attempts and connected on all six foul shots.
 
"It was a good win. Coach (Gleason) draws a bull's eye every game as it is firmly on us now. Everyone buckled down and did what they had to do and stayed focused," said Foster.
 
Wilcox chipped in 11 points, including a pair of treys to go with six assists and two rebounds.
 
In the starting lineup, Nikki Powell made the most of the opportunity with seven tallies, seven boards and a season-high four blocked shots.
 
Shields added seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and the steal in the final seconds off the bench.
 
Puryear rounded out the HSU scoring with six points and two assists.
 
Lopez powered the Pioneers with 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting and 9-for-10 from the foul line. The junior guard scored 13 points in the first half, and she added 16 second-half points. Lopez made seven of her team's final 11 points over the last five minutes.
 
On back-to-back 3-pointers, Shin gave HSU a 17-9 lead 8:39 into the game. The Jacks' margin grew to 14 points, 25-11, on a Foster bucket. Cal State East Bay cut a 10-point difference down to six points, 34-28, by the intermission.
 
A Wilcox inside jumper gave HSU its largest lead, 55-40, at 10:06 remaining. The Pioneers changed their defense and pressed themselves back into the contest.
 
Following Cal State East Bay's 16-1 run to make it a one-point game, Wilcox hit another shot jumper in the paint to make it 59-56 with 4:54.  After the Pioneers cut the deficit to a point for the third time, it was Dani Gaumer connected on her lone 3-pointer and only bucket of the night. The Gaumer trey gave the Jacks needed separation, 66-62, with 1:42 remaining.
 
Foster hauled in a missed Puryear 3-pointer and laid in the putback, 68-64, at 31 seconds on the clock.  Cal State East Bay's Lopez hit her final bucket to pull within one possession on an inside jumper, 68-66, with 10.3 seconds on the clock.
 
At 7.1 seconds, Wilcox missed a 1-on-1 trip to the foul line and the Pioneers gained possession on a jump ball moments later. Lopez's final push down the right sideline ended at the right-wing 3-point arc when Shields swiped the ball from her hands and clinched the home win.
 
"Nothing is going to be given to us," said Shields. "I saw Neika guarding (Cal State East Bay's) Lopez down the sideline and took the chance at the ball and came away with it at the end."
 
HSU stays at home for a Saturday contest against Cal State Monterey Bay. The game starts at 5:30 p.m. in Lumberjack Arena.