LACEY, Wash. - Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit and had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Saint Martin's held on for a 49-46 victory in the Lumberjacks' season opener Tuesday evening at Marcus Pavilion.
Sienna Cherwinski led Humboldt with 12 points, three rebounds and two 3-pointers while playing all 40 minutes.
Riley Sanz added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, finishing 4-for-4 at the free-throw line.
Shade Satica contributed four points, six rebounds, four assists and a game-high seven steals.
Alyssa Kem scored six points off the bench, while
Hailey Lakey and
Kaitlyn Beall each finished with five. Beall also recorded two blocks.
Humboldt opened the game with six unanswered points behind baskets from Beall, Gabrielle Brooks and Cherwinski. The Lumberjacks extended their advantage to six before Kem's layup in the closing seconds gave Humboldt a 13-9 lead after the first quarter.
Kem opened the second period with another basket to push the lead to 15-9, but Saint Martin's responded with 12 consecutive points. The Saints moved ahead midway through the quarter and carried a 32-28 advantage into halftime.
The Lumberjacks opened the second half with a 5-0 run. Beall made a free throw before Cherwinski and Sanz scored on consecutive possessions, giving Humboldt a 33-32 lead with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Saint Martin's answered with a 7-2 run and entered the fourth with a 39-35 advantage. The Saints stretched their lead to eight at 45-37 before Humboldt began its final push.
Beall and Kem scored on consecutive possessions before Cherwinski connected from beyond the arc to bring the Lumberjacks within one at 45-44 with 3:04 remaining. After a Saint Martin's basket, Sanz made two free throws to again trim the deficit to one with 1:21 left.
Daeja Hollands restored the Saints' three-point advantage with a layup, but Humboldt received another opportunity after Saint Martin's missed two free throws in the final seconds. Cherwinski's potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, allowing the Saints to escape with the victory.
Humboldt finished 18-for-51 from the field and converted eight of its 13 free-throw attempts. The Lumberjacks forced 20 turnovers, recorded 13 steals and scored 17 points off Saint Martin's miscues.
Saint Martin's shot 41.9 percent from the field and held a 34-26 advantage on the glass. Laiken Hill and Karyss Lacanlale led the Saints with 11 points apiece, while Avery Oaster collected eight points and 11 rebounds.
The loss moved Humboldt to 0-1, while Saint Martin's improved to 1-0.
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Humboldt will travel to Nampa, Idaho, for the CCAA/GNAC Crossover at Northwest Nazarene's Johnson Sports Center.
The Lumberjacks will face Central Washington on Friday, Nov. 13, at 4:15 p.m. before meeting host Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m. Both start times are Pacific.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on
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