PhotosLOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's basketball team put itself in position for a big win over the California Collegiate Athletic Association leaders, but Humboldt State made the plays it needed to when it mattered most.
The Golden Eagles held an eight-point lead with six minutes to play, but got outscored 16-0 down the stretch and fell to the 'Jacks, 64-56, Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (9-10, 8-7 CCAA) took a 56-48 lead after a 3-pointer by
Shanice Jackson with 6:36 to play and then didn't score again.
Humboldt State (18-2, 14-1 CCAA) held a three-point lead with less than a minute to play and then hit 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to extend the winning margin.
Cal State L.A. had a huge rebounding edge, 51-37, but made 23 costly turnovers, including several down the stretch.
Bree Parsons had 10 points for the Golden Eagles, while
Aiwekhoe Okungbowa had nine points and 11 rebounds and
Franeka Hall had eight points and 13 rebounds.
A'jaee Foster had a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds for the 'Jacks, while Megan Shields had 11 points and six rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot just 30.3 percent for the game (20-of-66) and were just 6-of-22 from 3-point range. The 'Jacks shot just 33.3 percent (16-of-48) and were just 3-of-18 from 3-point range. Humboldt State enjoyed a big advantage at the free-throw line, where the 'Jacks hit 29-of-39 to the Golden Eagles' 10-of-17.
Cal State L.A. was hampered by foul trouble throughout the game.
Kiah Knox fouled out after just 13 minutes of playing time, while Parsons, Okungbowa,
Kaija Powell and
Chiara DiMarco each had four fouls. Kersey Wilcox and Shields had four fouls each for the 'Jacks.
Cal State L.A. started well and opened up a 16-7 lead thanks to a 7-0 run following a pair of free throws by Okungbowa, a 3-pointer by Powell and a jumper by Parsons. Humboldt State tied it at 21-21, but a 3-pointer by Powell gave the Golden Eagles the lead again and Cal State L.A. led for the rest of the half. A basket by
Kiara Harewood gave the Golden Eagles a 31-26 lead at halftime.
A 3-pointer by DiMarco gave the Golden Eagles a 36-30 lead with 17:29 to go, but Humboldt State went on a 10-2 run to take a 40-38 lead with 12:56 to go.
A three-point play by Jackson gave the Golden Eagles the lead back, and, after a jumper by Neika Puryear gave the 'Jacks a 42-41 lead, Hall scored on a layup and Parsons hit a jumper to put the Golden Eagles back ahead. After a pair of free throws by Wilcox cut the deficit to 46-45, a layup by Knox and a 3-pointer by Hall gave the Golden Eagles a 51-45 lead. A jumper by DiMarco pushed the lead to eight at 53-45 and Jackson's 3-pointer made it 56-48 with 6:36 remaining.
Cal State L.A. surrendered the lead with 1:48 to go and then missed a pair of potential go-ahead 3-pointers on the next possession.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against Cal State San Bernardino.
