ARCATA, Calif. – For eight consecutive games the Humboldt State women's basketball team delivered in the win column, but Tuesday night the home team fell short. The Lumberjacks were eliminated from the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament with a 72-62 loss to Cal State East Bay.

"East Bay punched us and we didn't punch back," said HSU Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "They outplayed us and out-toughed us. They played like they wanted it a whole lot more than we did. I knew this was going to be an emotional game. East Bay is hosting the conference tournament and they had a lot to play for. I knew we would get their absolute best."

Tuesday's loss will certainly dent the Green and Gold's NCAA postseason chances, but it doesn't guarantee the North Coast squad will be denied its second consecutive regional appearance. HSU moved to 19-7 overall with the result.

The Jacks led 17-16 after the first quarter, but the offense leaned heavily on the reigning CCAA Player of the Week. Junior Alexia Thrower had eight points, two rebounds and a pair of blocks in the first 10 minutes.

An 11-0 run midway through the second quarter gave the visitors a lead they never surrendered. The Pioneers led 39-33 following the offensive burst, but the Jacks answered with four straight points as the half came to a close.  

Jovanah Arrington scored nine of the Jacks' 20 points in the second quarter, but the Green and Gold trailed 39-37 at intermission.

After shooting 60.7 percent from the field, East Bay's offense didn't have the same pop in the third quarter. The Pioneers outscored the home team 13-12 to keep a slim 52-49 advantage.

East Bay's offense went scoreless late in the third quarter and the 5:32 stretch extended into the fourth, but the Jacks were unable to capitalize. Back-to-back layups from Tyra Turner with less than five minutes in the fourth pulled the Green and Gold within three, 58-55, but the Pioneers didn't quit. Madison Schiller and Kinsco Kelemen connected on consecutive 3-pointers with two minutes to play which sealed the upset for the No. 6 seed Pioneers.

Arrington finished the game with a team-high 18 points for the Jacks, while Turner and Thrower each turned in double-digit performances with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Turner dished out eight assists to go with three steals and five rebounds in the loss.

HSU must now wait until Sunday night at 7 p.m. for the NCAA Selection Show to determine its fate.