ARCATA, Calif. – The Humboldt State women's basketball team missed six consecutive free throw opportunities in the game's closing minute en route to a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to Chico State Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena.

The Lumberjacks led by five to begin the fourth quarter, but they were unable to stifle a Wildcat rally. Chico State made the most of HSU's charity stripe miscues, and Shay Stark sank a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining to seal the Green and Gold's third straight home loss to their rival.

"I thought we played hard, we executed the scout well, and we put ourselves in a position to win the game," said Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "It's very unfortunate we didn't come out with the win. We will continue to work hard to become a better team and I need to do better as a coach."

In the home team's worst shooting night of the season (35.3 percent), Jovanah Arrington led the way with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. HSU led by a game-high 12 points with 4:24 left in the third quarter, but even Arrington's stellar shooting performance was unable to save the home squad's ice-cold scoring in the final 20 minutes.

HSU led by three, 35-32, at intermission and never trailed in the first 20 minutes. The Green and Gold connected on 41.2 percent of their shots in the first half, and Tyra Turner punctuated the action with a layup before heading into the locker room.

Madeline Hatch drained a basket from outside the arc to give the home team its largest lead of the night midway into the third quarter. Three consecutive baskets to cap the third frame sparked the Wildcat comeback. HSU was held scoreless in the game's final two minutes, and Chico State outscored the Jacks 15-9 in the last 10 minutes.

The Green and Gold will now enter the winter break and will travel to face their next opponent, UC San Diego, on the road Saturday, Dec. 29. Tipoff at 5:30 p.m.