HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball continued its late-season surge with a hard-fought 66-60 victory over Cal State East Bay on Thursday night at Pioneer Gym. The win extends the Jacks' winning streak to three games and moves them into a tie for seventh place in the CCAA standings, just two games behind the final conference tournament spot with five games remaining in the regular season.
Four Lumberjacks scored in double figures as Humboldt (8-15, 7-10 CCAA) controlled the game in the middle quarters to secure the win. Dailani Richardson led the Jacks off the bench with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Kyori Lloyd posted her second-straight double-double with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Marley Johnson contributed 12 points, all from three-point range. Andjela Pavicevic also recorded her first double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Pavicevic also led defensively with three steals and a block.
"I'm really proud of the team tonight," said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "From the very beginning of the game, I thought we had great energy and were aggressive on both ends of the floor. Andjela really stepped up and both Dailani and Marley were huge off the bench. There are a couple areas we need to clean up, which we will discuss, but overall it was a great team win on the road."
Game Summary
The Jacks got off to a slow start offensively, shooting just 21.4% in the first quarter and trailing 14-10 after the opening 10 minutes. However, they responded in the second quarter with an offensive explosion, shooting nearly 69% from the field to take a 36-24 lead into halftime.
Humboldt maintained its advantage in the third quarter, outscoring the Pioneers 21-15 behind four made three-pointers. Despite a late push from East Bay in the fourth quarter, the Jacks' defense held firm, limiting the Pioneers to just 36.4% shooting overall and 16.7% from three-point range.
Key Stats & Notes
- Balanced Attack: Four players scored in double figures for the Jacks.
- Dominant Rebounding: Humboldt won the rebounding battle 44-39, led by Lloyd and Pavicevic's double-digit efforts.
- Defensive Prowess: The Jacks held Cal State East Bay to just four made three-pointers on 24 attempts (16.7%).
- Bench Impact: Humboldt's reserves outscored East Bay's bench 28-12, led by Richardson's 16 points.
With the victory, Humboldt inches closer to the top six in the CCAA standings. The Jacks will look to keep their postseason hopes alive when they return to action on the road this Saturday, February 15, against San Francisco State.
Up Next
Cal Poly Humboldt will continue its push for a CCAA Tournament spot with a crucial road matchup against San Francisco State (9-12, 7-9 CCAA) on Saturday, who is currently tied with Humboldt for seventh place in the standings. Tip off is set for 1:00 PM in San Francisco in the Main Gym At Don Nasser Family Plaza. Back in December, the Jacks defeated the Gators with a final score of 59-55 in Arcata.
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.
