POMONA, Calif. – The No. 2 seed Cal Poly Humboldt women's basketball team saw its CCAA Tournament run come to a close on Friday afternoon as No. 3 seed Cal State LA used a strong second quarter to seize control and never looked back in an 87-55 semifinal decision at Kellogg Arena.
With the loss, the 'Jacks move to 20-9 overall, while Cal State LA improves to 23-6 and advances to the CCAA Championship Game to face the winner of top-seeded and host Cal Poly Pomona and No. 4 seed Chico State.
Humboldt, which earned a first-round bye after finishing tied for second in the CCAA regular season standings (18-4 CCAA), faced a Golden Eagle squad coming off a Thursday quarterfinal win over No. 6 seed Cal State Monterey Bay. After a tightly contested opening quarter that featured five ties and five lead changes, Cal State LA used a decisive run in the second period to create separation.
The Lumberjacks trailed just 16-15 after the first 10 minutes, but the Golden Eagles shot 47.6 percent (10-for-21) in the second quarter while holding Humboldt to nine points to take a 40-24 lead into halftime. Cal State LA continued to build its advantage in the second half, shooting 58.8 percent in the third and 70 percent in the fourth to secure the 87-55 victory.
Freshman of the year, Jordyn Smith, led the way for Humboldt with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, recording a double-double while adding three assists and three blocks in 38 minutes of action. Smith anchored the 'Jacks on the glass as Humboldt battled against Cal State LA's 44-31 rebounding edge.
Shade Satica matched Smith with 15 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers while pulling in seven rebounds and collecting three steals. Satica's aggressive play on both ends kept Humboldt within striking distance early as the teams traded baskets in the opening quarter.
Off the bench, Leamsi Acuna provided an efficient spark, scoring nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a three-pointer, in 17 minutes. Acuna helped stabilize the offense in stretches and contributed two steals defensively.
As a team, Humboldt shot 36.8 percent (21-for-57) from the field and 23.8 percent (5-for-21) from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles capitalized on turnovers, scoring 33 points off 26 Lumberjack miscues, and received a significant boost from their bench with 34 points.
Despite the setback, Humboldt now turns its attention to the NCAA postseason picture. Entering the week ranked No. 8 in the NCAA West Region, the 'Jacks will await the NCAA Selection Show set for Sunday at 7:30 p.m. PT on NCAA.com to learn if their season will continue at the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament.
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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