ARCATA, Calif.- Jayci Bayne scored a career high 22 points and Jaydon Williams recorded a double-double as the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks dispatched the visiting Cal State Monterey Bay Otters 70-37 on Saturday evening at Lumberjack Arena. The win improves the 'Jacks to 8-10 and 6-8 in CCAA play while the loss drops the Otters to 5-14 and 1-13 in conference play. 

"I thought the girls were really ready when we started the ball game," head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. "Defensively, I thought we came out really with some intensity."

The defensive intensity was apparent, as the North Coast squad jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. The Otters weren't able to put points on the board until less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter after Mikayla Mabie hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 14-3. The 'Jacks finished the first frame limiting Cal State Monterey Bay to single digit points, 18-7. The roles were reversed in the second quarter, as Monterey found its footing and outscored the 'Jacks 14-7 in the second quarter. Humboldt entered the half with a slim 25-21 lead. 

"We had a pocket of time in the second quarter where we played a bit out of character," Bento-Jackson said. "We got a bit too loose offensively and defensively for that matter." 

Humboldt seemed to address any issues during halftime, as the 'Jacks put the game away in the third, allowing just two field goals and outscoring Monterey 30-4 to take a dominant 55-25 advantage. From there, the team coasted to a 70-37 victory.

"I thought we came out in the third quarter and really set the tone," the coach said. "Primarily on the defensive end."

The team's 33 point margin of victory is the largest so far this season.

Offensively, Bayne credited her offensive success to the team's ball movement. 

"Definitely playing with more confidence," Bayne said. "Devon [Lewis] was finding me in transition so I was getting a lot of easy layups off that. We just had good ball movement and I was playing a little more aggressively." 

Bento-Jackson also credited Williams with bringing a new level of intensity tonight. 

"I thought it was pretty apparent that she just came with a different level of energy and intensity tonight." the coach said. "She does a lot of things that aren't necessarily on the stat sheet. She really got us going on both ends of the floor."

NOTABLE STATS
Jayci Bayne's 22 points are a career high. The junior from Pismo Beach also grabbed four rebounds and one steal. Madison Parry scored 16 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Jaydon Williams pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with 10 points, three assists and four steals. Kaz Parks and Zyan Smith each chipped in seven points a piece, while Parks added three steals. Devon Lewis scored six points to go with six assists and seven rebounds. As a team, the 'Jacks recorded 14 steals. Humboldt outscored Monterey 21-8 in points off turnovers and 32-22 in points in the paint. Humboldt also outran their opponents, outscoring the Otters 22-5 in fast break points. 

UP NEXT
The North Coast squad will be back on the road next weekend when they travel to face Stanislaus State on Thursday, Feb. 2 and Chico State on Saturday, Feb. 4. Tip-off for Thursday's game is set for 5:30 p.m. while Saturday's game is slated for 1 p.m.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms.