Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team made a triumphant return to the Eagles Nest Friday night.
 
The Golden Eagles raced to a 13-point halftime lead and made it stand up in a 71-57 victory over Humboldt State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest. Cal State L.A. (7-4, 5-2 CCAA) , playing its first home game since Dec. 11, snapped a six-game losing streak to Humboldt State (9-2, 5-2 CCAA).
 
It was a fast-paced game from start to finish with both teams pushing the pace at nearly every opportunity. The Golden Eagles took the lead for good in the final eight minutes of the first half and never relinquished it despite numerous runs by the 'Jacks.
 
Cal State L.A. finished the first half with a 30-15 run over the last eight minutes and then built leads as large as 18 points in the second half. Humboldt State was able to trim the deficit to eight points with three minutes to go, but couldn't get any closer than seven points the rest of the way. Cal State L.A. closed out the game on a 9-2 run to account for the final margin.
 
Jazzi Johnson led three Golden Eagles in double figures with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Tessondra Williams had 16 points and Lacey Gibbons finished with 13 points.
 
Bree Halsey had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead Humboldt State, while Whitney Howard also had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Kayla Williams had 11 points and six assists.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 38.3 percent for the game (23-of-60), while Humboldt State shot just 25 percent (19-of-76). The Golden Eagles were also efficient from the free-throw line, making 23-of-34 attempts to Humboldt State's 14-of-25. Cal State L.A. had a 55-51 rebounding edge. Lacy Ramon had 15 rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles to go along with seven points, while Richelle Najera had 11 rebounds to go along with eight points.
 
The Golden Eagles had a decisive advantage from its bench, which outscored the 'Jacks, 33-7. Both Williams and Gibbons led the offense off the bench.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed early, 8-4, but used an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. Four straight points by Ramon tied it and a 3-pointer by Maryum Jenkins gave the Golden Eagles an 11-8 advantage. Johnson added a free throw and Najera converted a three-point play to make it 15-8 midway through the first half.
 
A layup by Gibbons gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14 and a free throw by Jenkins gave Cal State L.A. its biggest lead of the half at 31-18. That advantage was equaled when a Williams layup gave the Golden Eagles a 36-23 halftime lead.
 
A 3-pointer by Gibbons boosted the lead to 41-27, but Humboldt State fought back and closed to within nine points, 43-34, after a layup by Halsey.
 
Cal State L.A. responded with nine straight points to open up its biggest lead at 53-35 following a basket by Samantha Hansen with 9:40 to play. Humboldt State cut the lead to nine points twice over the next four minutes, but Cal State L.A. answered each run. The 'Jacks made it 60-52 following a layup by Halsey with 2:50 to go, but the Golden Eagles got a layup by Najera to push the lead back to 10 points, 62-52. A 3-pointer by Lisa Petty brought the 'Jacks to within seven at 62-55 with just 1:10 remaining, but the Golden Eagles connected on eight straight free throws to extend the lead.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against Sonoma State.