ARCATA, Calif. – Putting a four-game conference winning streak on the line, the Humboldt State women's basketball team will take on Sonoma State this Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Saturday's game will pit the Seawolves (3-4 overall, 1-3 CCAA) against the home Jacks (5-5, 4-1 conference) in both squads' last CCAA game before the holiday break.

The Jacks are currently tied for most conference wins in the CCAA, and Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson attributes that in no small part to their stout defense.

"As I've been saying the last couple weeks, one thing that's just been the lead for us and what's really gotten us going is what's happening on the defensive end," said Bento-Jackson. "The team has really been doing a terrific job of executing our game plan. What we've been striving for is to feed off our defense instead of our offense. Our offense has been something that's been up-and-down this year, so our defense has definitely been something we've had to rely on."

Bento-Jackson pointed to her team's outing against Western Oregon back in late November, a 64-62 loss that came down to the final seconds, as a turning point. The team was coming off a subpar effort the previous night against Concordia that Bento-Jackson said "didn't sit well" with her team. And while the Jacks didn't come up with the victory, the coach was happy with the degree of defensive effort her squad showed.

Since that Western Oregon contest, the team has reeled off four straight CCAA victories and developed a winning mindset as they prepare to host Sonoma State nearing the end of finals week for the students.

Bento-Jackson said that this past week the squad had been spending less hours in the gym due to the team's academic obligations, but emphasized that in the hours the team spent practicing, they needed to assert the proper level of focus.

The coach said that Sonoma State would present a challenge with a couple different defenses, a man-to-man with some switching and a matchup zone. Offensively, she noted that the Seawolves have showed some balance, getting productivity from both their interior and perimeter games, and the Lumberjacks will need to continue their stellar effort on the defensive end.

After the game, HSU's women will stay in town for a few days and put on a clinic at 11:15 a.m. -1:15 p.m. Sunday in the East Gym for interested community members, serving both girls and boys up through 8th grade. Bento-Jackson said their will be some skill development at this Christmas clinic, but participants should expect to have a lot of fun.

The following day, Lumberjack players will participate in a food drive as a community service activity, and then depart on the Dec. 19 to spend time with friends and family for the holidays before HSU gears up to host Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA the weekend of New Year's Eve.