CHICO –Humboldt State women's basketball picked up its first California Collegiate Athletic Association victory of the season when it claimed a 44-42 win over Chico State Friday. Leading by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter, the Lumberjacks survived a Wildcat comeback attempt to hold on to their lead.
 
"First and foremost, I want to say how proud I am of our young ladies," said Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "In a tough, back and forth game like tonight getting defensive stops can win or lose the game. Fortunately, we got some key stops and timely baskets on offense. Wins like tonight feel good because everyone made a contribution. It was a true team win."
 
Humboldt State (2-7, 1-2 CCAA) scored 18 points off turnovers and forced nine steals in the win. Chico (5-4, 0-3 CCAA) turned the ball over 21 times and only shot 16 percent from outside the arc (3-of-19).
 
Humboldt State held a 5-3 lead at the first quarter media timeout, but a successful three-point-play by Jo Paine gave the Wildcats a 6-5 lead with 3:47 remaining. The Wildcats closed out the opening period on a 10-2 run and led 14-7. Catharine Rees led the Jacks with three points.
 
The Lumberjacks opened the second quarter with a 10-3 run to cut the Wildcats lead to 18-17. A 3-pointer by Rees with 22 seconds remaining tied the game at 22 apiece heading into the intermission.
                                                                                                 
Rees led the Green and Gold with eight first half points while Kindall Murie and Madeline Hatch each added three. Tyra Turner and Riann Thayer had three rebounds apiece, and Ashlynn Cox dished out two assists for HSU in the first 20 minutes.
 
Both teams found scoring difficult in the early part of the third quarter, with Chico entering the media timeout with a 26-24 lead. When play resumed, a Teylor McMiller layup with 2:03 remaining evened the game at 26-26.  A Natalie Valenzeula layup with nine seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a two-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
The Jacks opened the final frame on a 12-4 run, giving them a 38-32 lead and forcing Chico to take a timeout. Following the media timeout, the Wildcats clawed their way back to within a point thanks to a pair of Sherise Porchia 3-pointers and the North Coast team chose to call timeout.
 
The Wildcats tied the game at 1:56 thanks to a Valenzuela layup, but Turner answered, and the Lumberjacks held a 43-41 lead with 1:37 to go. With eight seconds remaining, Thayer stole the ball from Valenzuela and after a successful free throw by Cox, the Green and Gold escaped from Acker Gym with the 44-42 victory.
 
Rees was the Jacks' top scorer and finished with 13 points while Turner added eight and Shannon chipped in with six. Shannon also led the Green and Gold with nine rebounds while Turner dished out three assists. McMiller led HSU with three steals on the evening.
 
Chico's Paine led both teams with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds, and her teammate Porchia added nine points.
 
Humboldt State concludes its current road trip when it faces Stanislaus State in a CCAA game on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.