ARCATA – The long and winding stretch of Highway 299 that the Chico State women’s basketball team has to endure every year on its way to Arcata is challenging enough; beating Humboldt State once the Wildcats get there has proven to be just as tough. Despite an early eight-point advantage in the first half, the ’Cats could not contain hot-shooting Humboldt State, which built a 12-point second half lead and fended off a late Chico State rally to post a 72-62 victory Saturday night at Lumberjack Arena, handing the Wildcats their fourth loss in the team’s last five trips to Arcata.
With Saturday’s loss, Chico State dropped to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State improved to 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in CCAA play.
Natasha Smith led four Wildcats players scoring in double figures, pouring in a season-high 15 points. Synchro Bull scored 13 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists; Jazmine Miller hit three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, and McKenzie Dalthorp registered a double-double with a career-high 10 points and 10 rebounds. Lisa Petty led the victorious Lumberjacks, posting a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards.
The Wildcats got off to a great start in the first half. After Humboldt State jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, Chico State held the Lumberjacks scoreless for six-and-a-half minutes while ripping off 13 unanswered points – Bull and Ymonne Davidson-Mays contributed a pair of buckets and Miller a 3-pointer during the stretch – to go up 15-7. The ’Cats were still on top 21-16 when Humboldt took charge of the contest, outscoring Chico State 19-5 and holding the Wildcats to just one field goal over the final 5:36 of the period. The ’Cats didn’t help their cause much, committing 13 turnovers and missing five of eight from the free throw line, and the Lumberjacks went into the locker room with a 35-26 halftime lead.
Chico State scored nine of the first 13 points in the second half to quickly cut the deficit to four – a layup and 3-pointer by Smith pulling the Wildcats to within 39-35. Humboldt State responded with an 11-5 run to push its lead to double digits at 50-40. The ’Cats proceeded to chip away, utilizing baskets by Davidson-Mays and Dalthorp, a 3-pointer by Courtney Hamilton and three Smith free throws to make the score 56-50. Once again, the Lumberjacks had an answer for the Wildcat rally, posting an 8-2 run to extend their advantage to 64-52 with 4:16 to play.
Chico State made one last charge – Miller connected for a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of free throws, and a Smith layup made it a 66-62 game with 2:08 remaining. But that would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as Petty hit a big layup and Lexxi Price drained four three throws in the final minute to give Humboldt State the 72-62 victory.
BOX SCORE
Chico State takes Sunday off before returning to conference play Monday, traveling to Rohnert Park to take on the Seawolves of Sonoma State. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
