ARCATA, Calif. – Behind a dominant performance from Jordyn Smith and a wire-to-wire effort, Cal Poly Humboldt extended its winning streak to seven games with a 62-47 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday evening at Lumberjack Arena.
The win improves the Lumberjacks to 19-8 overall and 17-4 in CCAA play, tying their longest win streak of the season at seven games and securing the season sweep over the Otters. Humboldt remains in third place in the CCAA standings with one regular-season game remaining.
Humboldt set the tone early, racing out to a 25-9 lead after the first quarter behind efficient shooting and a stifling defensive effort. The 'Jacks held Monterey Bay to just 32.7% shooting from the field and 47 points overall, never surrendering the lead.
Smith delivered one of her most dominant performances of the season, posting her 14th double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds while adding five blocks in 40 minutes of action. The freshman center was a force on both ends, grabbing seven offensive boards and anchoring a defensive unit that controlled the paint throughout the night. Humboldt outscored the Otters 40-16 in the paint and out-rebounded them 38-26.
Jada Barnes provided a major spark offensively, finishing with 15 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including a three-pointer. She also added three steals and helped fuel Humboldt's defensive pressure that forced 17 turnovers and led to 18 points off turnovers.
Riley Sanz added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Shade Satica contributed eight points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists in a well-rounded effort.
After building the 16-point lead in the opening quarter, Humboldt maintained control despite a slower second period, taking a 31-20 advantage into halftime. The 'Jacks responded to Monterey Bay's strongest push in the third quarter and closed the game out in the fourth, shooting 46.7% in the final frame to secure the 15-point victory.
With the regular season winding down, playoff implications loom large. If Humboldt defeats Cal State San Marcos on Saturday and Cal State LA falls to Cal Poly Pomona, the Lumberjacks will earn the No. 2 seed in the upcoming CCAA Tournament and receive a first-round bye. If Cal State LA wins, Humboldt will remain the No. 3 seed.
The Lumberjacks return to Lumberjack Arena on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for their final regular-season home game against Cal State San Marcos (7-19, 4-17 CCAA). Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Day and Fan Appreciation Day as Humboldt looks to carry its momentum into the postseason.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.
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