LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball team let a double figure lead in the second half evaporate as the visiting Humboldt State Lumberjacks scored 50 points over the final 18 minutes en route to a 76-65 victory on Friday evening in RIMAC Arena. With the loss the Tritons fall to 16-7 overall and 8-5 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play while the 'Jacks sweep the season series and improve to 11-10 overall and 7-7 in league action.
The two teams played a close first half through the first 12 minutes as UCSD held a 21-19 lead at the 8:15 mark. The Tritons would go on a 11-0 run over the next five and half minutes to own a 32-19 advantage with only 2:16 remaining in the first stanza. Humboldt State would pull a little closer before half, trailing by only 10 points at intermission.
After the break, the two teams would exchange buckets to begin the second half before HSU began chipping away at the double-digit deficit. The 'Jacks got within one at 40-39 with 14:11 to go in regulation after a Katie Franci layup. After both teams reached the 47 point mark with just under 10 minutes to go, Humboldt State would begin to pull away, going on a 21-10 spurt to hold a 68-57 advantage with less than two minutes to play. HSU would make eight free throws over the final 118 seconds to ensure the victory.
Taylor Kilgore led five Humboldt State players in double figure scoring with her 12 points. Paige Peterson, Jennifer Enos and Franci each added 11 while Kayla Henry recorded 10 points. Franci also pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds in the win for the 'Jacks.
Meaghan Noud led all scorers with her 25 points in the loss for the Tritons. Noud went 7-for-12 from the floor and made 10 of 12 shots from the charity stripe. Michelle Osier notched a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double while Erin Noonan added nine points. Alexis Mezzetta contributed five points and a game-high eight assists.
As a team the Lumberjacks shot 50.9% from the floor, including an 8-for-18 performance from behind the 3-point arc. HSU also out-rebounded the Tritons by a 39-32 margin. Of those 39 rebounds, 13 came on the offensive end, many of which came late in the game to help secure the win.
UCSD managed a .404 shooting percentage from the floor, making 21 of its 52 shots. The Tritons also made four of 14 from long range and 19 of 28 from the foul line.
Head coach Charity Elliott and her squad will return to action on Saturday, hosting Sonoma State at 5:30 p.m. in RIMAC Arena.
