ARCATA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball team earned their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory of the season, edging past San Francisco State with a hard-fought 59-55 win at Lumberjack Arena on Thursday evening. The victory moves the Lumberjacks to a 2-5 overall record and 1-1 in conference play, while San Francisco State falls to 2-5 and remains winless in the CCAA at 0-2.
"It was great to get our first CCAA win," said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "There are plenty of areas that we will learn from in this game. The focus now goes to East Bay as we try to take care of our home court as it's our last home game for a month."
Game Recap
The game was a tense back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times throughout the contest. After a sluggish start in the first quarter, the Lumberjacks found their rhythm in the second half, outscoring the Gators 38-30 in the final two frames.
Senior guard Kaiija Lesane led the way for Humboldt with a team-high 15 points, including 5-of-8 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Junior guard Dailani Richardson contributed 10 points, while also grabbing 6 rebounds and adding 3 assists. Sophomore Kyori Lloyd chipped in 10 points and 7 rebounds in a strong all-around performance.
San Francisco State struggled offensively, shooting just 32.3% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range. Alexsandra Alvarado was the standout for the Gators, scoring 24 points on 8-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-13 from deep. However, the Gators' shooting woes in the second quarter, where they managed just 8 points, ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
Despite a strong push in the final minutes from San Francisco State, Humboldt's defense and efficient scoring helped them hold on for the win. The Lumberjacks dominated the boards, finishing with a 42-29 rebound advantage, including a 12-4 edge on the offensive glass.
Notable Performances
- Lesane: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
- Richardson: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
- Lloyd: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
- Riley Sanz: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists (off the bench)
Team Stats
- Cal Poly Humboldt: 23-59 FG (39.0%), 6-19 3PT (31.6%), 7-9 FT (77.8%)
- San Francisco State: 20-62 FG (32.3%), 8-30 3PT (26.7%), 7-10 FT (70.0%)
Up Next
The Lumberjacks will look to build on this momentum as they continue their CCAA schedule on Saturday at 3:00 PM when they host Cal State East Bay (2-5, 1-1 CCAA). It is Toys for Tots Night, meaning if you bring an unwrapped toy to support children in our community this holiday season, you will receive FREE admission to the games on Saturday, December 7.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.
