ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State women's basketball saw its three-game winning streak come to an end Thursday night as it fell to rival Chico State, 57-45, in Lumberjack Arena.
 
"In the three previous games I thought we took a step forward in taking care of the ball and in our half-court defense," said Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "Unfortunately tonight our half-court defense took a step backward. The lane was wide open for Chico."
 
The Jacks kept the game even through two quarters, but the Wildcats dominated the second half shooting 61.1 percent from the field.
 
Kindall Murie led the Green and Gold with 11 points, all of which she scored in the first 20 minutes of action. Riann Thayer had a season-high 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
 
Unlike the first meeting when she was limited to just four points, Chico State's Whitney Branham put together an impressive performance in the rematch. Branham led all scorers with 20 points and was 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
 
The Wildcats outrebounded the Jacks 32-27, while HSU's bench outscored the Chico State reserves 17-14.
 
HSU hosts Stanislaus State Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
"We are familiar with Stanislaus because we played them earlier this season," said Bento-Jackson. "If we make the mistakes we made tonight with our half-court defense we won't be successful against Stanislaus."