LOS ANGELES – Seeking its first California Collegiate Athletic Association victory, Humboldt State women's basketball could not overcome a 16-point halftime deficit in its 76-68 loss to Cal State Los Angeles Friday. Trailing by as many as 23 in the second half, the Lumberjacks chipped away at the Golden Eagles lead in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to as few as six points before time expired.
 
"Again, we dug ourselves too big of a hole," said Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "We did not take care of the ball well and had too many defensive breakdowns. Unfortunately, we took a step backwards tonight, and I need to get our team to grow up and learn from game to game. We cannot continue to make the same mistakes."
 
Humboldt State shot 79 percent from the free-throw line (15-19) and out-rebounded the Golden Eagles (44-23). Cal State Los Angeles (4-3, 1-0 CCAA) shot 50 percent from three-point territory (10-20) and scored 25 points off turnovers to eventually earn the win against the Jacks (1-7, 0-2 CCAA).
 
Cal State Los Angeles jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, forcing the Lumberjacks to take a timeout. The Lumberjacks closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run but still trailed 25-19 after the opening period. Riann Thayer led the Jacks with five points.
 
The Golden Eagles opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run, forcing another Lumberjack timeout. When play resumed, HSU went on a 5-0 run, making the Golden Eagles take a timeout. Cal State Los Angeles entered the intermission with a 42-26 lead. 
                                                                                                  
Rees led the Green and Gold with six first half points while Thayer added five. Tyra Turner, Mikaela Shannon and Ashlynn Cox all grabbed four rebounds for HSU in the first 20 minutes.
 
Cal State Los Angeles opened the second half with a 9-2 run, giving it a 23-point lead with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter. Despite six third quarter points by Ashlynn Cox, the Lumberjacks entered the fourth quarter trailing by 22. 
 
In the final quarter, HSU opened with a 13-5 run, cutting the Golden Eagle lead to 14. The Lumberjacks closed the gap to six points with eight seconds remaining thanks to a three-pointer from Rees, but Cal State Los Angeles held on and escaped University Gym with a 76-68 victory.
 
Turner was the Jacks' top scorer and finished with 14 points, while Kindall Murie (13) and Lynnzy Troxell (11) also scored in double figures. Turner led the Green and Gold rebounding efforts with nine, and Shannon dished out five assists for HSU.
 
Cal State Los Angeles' Da'Jah Jackson led all scorers with 20 points to go with five assists, and her teammate Rikke Fabricius chipped in with 18 points and five rebounds. 

Humboldt State returns to conference action next weekend when it faces Chico State in a CCAA game on Friday, Dec. 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.