LOS ANGELES – Over the final 6:36, the Humboldt State women's basketball team scored the final 14 points and flipped the score to clip Cal State Los Angeles, 64-56, Friday night in the Eagles Nest.
 
Trailing 56-48 after a Golden Eagles' 3-pointer, the Lumberjacks' Jae Shin downed her first trey to start the game-ending run and tied the game, 56-56, two minutes later, with 4:06 left on her second 3-pointer. Leading 59-56 with 39 seconds remaining, HSU's Dani Gaumer blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and converted her two ensuing free throws to clinch the victory.
 
"Wow! I didn't realize Cal State Los Angeles didn't score the final six minutes," said HSU Head Coach Joddie Gleason. "A team has to execute down the stretch with stops on defense and score on offense at the other end. We made plays and executed for the win."
 
The HSU victory was important for multiple reasons. The Jacks are now 18-2 overall and 14-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and hold on to their one game lead over Saturday night's opponent Cal State Dominguez Hills (13-2). Cal State Los Angeles dropped to 9-10 on the year and 8-7 in the CCAA.
 
The Jacks win also signified coach Gleason's 300^th career coaching win. Gleason improved to 300-163 over 16 years of collegiate women's basketball head coaching. As the winningest HSU coach, she improved to 183-118 in 11 years directing the North Coast team.
 
"It is great to reach these milestones. It is really a coaching staff award," said Gleason.
 
The battle between HSU and Cal State Los Angeles had a familiar ending. On Jan. 3 in Arcata, the Jacks went on runs of 21-6 and 14-0 over the final 10 minutes to turn a 15-point deficit into an 81-67 victory over the Golden Eagles.
 
The HSU player of the night was Fontana, Calif., native A'Jaee Foster. The junior forward scored the Jacks first 14 points of the second half and single-handedly kept her team in the game. Foster finished with 22 points, her third 20-point game and first since she hit for 21 points in the first meeting on Jan. 3 versus Cal State Los Angeles. She made 6-of-9 from the field and went 10-for-14 from the foul line with 17 of her points coming in the final 20 minutes. The forward added eight rebounds, five steals and an assist.
 
"I was angry because I missed three free throws in the first half. I was playing mad," said Foster of her 14-straight points to start the second period.
 
Megan Shields was the only other HSU player in double digits with 11 points and six rebounds. The senior center netted nine points and grabbed five boards in the first half. She also swatted two Golden Eagle shot attempts and stole two passes.
 
Kersey Wilcox chipped in nine points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist. Neika Puryear made 6-of-7 free throws and had eight points.
 
Nikki Powell made the contest's first bucket 21 seconds into the game and gave HSU its second lead, 3-2, at 17:53. Off two Shields foul shots for a 21-21 tie at 3:40, Cal State Los Angeles led the rest of the opening half for a 31-26 intermission score.
 
"We took a punch in the mouth the first 10 minutes. It was a very physical game," said Gleason.
 
Behind 33-26 in the opening second-half minutes, Foster took over for HSU. She made five buckets and converted on all four foul shots to net 14-straight points to help tie and take the lead, 40-38, at the 12:56 mark.
 
"A'Jaee took over the game in the second half. She willed us to win," said the HSU coach.
 
After a Puryear jumper, HSU held a slim 42-41 lead. The Golden Eagles scored the next five points to edge back ahead, 46-42, and they continued to hold their largest advantage, 56-48, with 6:36 left.
 
Shin found her range for a pair of key treys including more than a 27-foot 3-pointer at 4:06 to tie the game, 56-56.
 
"It's the law of averages," said Gleason. "I tell her she will hit the next one. We kept running the offense to isolate the post where if the defense helped then Jae would be open."
 
Following the second Shin trey, HSU did not make another bucket, but converted 6-of-8 free throws over the final 1:04 and held Cal State Los Angeles off the board for the 64-56 victory.
 
The Golden Eagles received 10 points from Bree Parsons to lead their effort. Aiwekhoe Okungbowa added nine points and 11 rebounds.
 
HSU travels the short distance to Carson, Calif. for a 5:30 p.m. Saturday contest against second-place Cal State Dominguez Hills.