ARCATA, Calif. – Lumberjack Arena was filled with pink balloons, signs, and basketball gear Saturday night. In the annual breast cancer awareness game, Humboldt State women's basketball (12-12, 9-8) defeated Cal State Monterey Bay (8-16, 4-6) in the regular season's lone matchup, 57-42.
 
"We first tried to stop MaKenna Hill from getting things easy," said Head Coach Joddie Gleason. "She's their leading scorer and we did a great job of making her take tough shots. Our overall team defense was better with our rotation and team rebounding. We forced them to make tough shots, and they were challenged most of the time."
 
Hill finished 0-for-13 from the field. The HSU defense allowed season-lows in points (42), field goal percentage (25.0), and 3-point percentage (10.0).
 
The Green and Gold never trailed, but the Otters did cut a seven-point first quarter deficit to just one in the second quarter, 15-14 with 4:13 remaining until halftime. It was at that moment that Amanda Kunst went on a personal 9-0 run to push the lead to double digits for the first time. HSU led 28-19 at the half.
 
The Jacks came out of the locker room and quickly pushed the lead to a game-high 16 points, 38-22, on a Kiana Brown made three at the 6:26 mark of the third. After cutting it back down to nine points, Monterey Bay allowed HSU to score the final five points of the third to head into the final period up 14, 43-29.
 
The Otters scored the first seven points of the final quarter to bring it within seven, 43-36, for the first time all half. Teylor McMiller answered with back-to-back buckets to end the run. After Monterey Bay made one final push to make it 47-39, Humboldt closed it out with 10 of the game's final 13 points, to win 57-42.
 
"Amanda is playing with that urgency you have to have from your seniors and leaders," said Gleason. "I think that we had a few matchups that we could get to the rim, and I think we were able to execute and get shots or get to the free throw line."
 
HSU was 16-of-17 shooting from the charity stripe.
 
Kunst led all scorers and rebounders with 17 points and eight boards. Brown added 14 points and McMiller finished with 11 points and three blocks.
 
The Jacks are set for their final regular season road trip next week, with games at Stanislaus State and Chico State. The season finale is scheduled for Feb. 25 at Lumberjack Arena against Cal State San Marcos.