ARCATA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball team won its sixth straight game by upsetting No. 15 Humboldt State 78-63 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Thursday at Lumberjack Arena. The Tritons shot 45.8 percent (22-48) from the field and 35.7 percent (5-14) from behind the arc, while limiting HSU to just 34.4 percent (22-64) shooting.
With the win, UCSD improves to 17-9 overall and 15-6 in the conference while the Lumberjacks drop to 22-4 overall and 18-3 in the CCAA. It was a first home loss for Humboldt after 11 prior victories in Arcata this season.
The first half saw both teams battle it out with four ties and four lead changes. The Tritons gained an early 7-2 advantage, but HSU was able to come back from the deficit to tie it up, 15-15. The Lumberjacks used a 10-3 run to gain a seven-point lead, 25-18, after a three-point basket from Danielle Gaumer and a pair of free throws from Nikki Powell.
UCSD tied and took the lead, 30-29 with 2:10 left in the period, after two Farrah Shokoor baskets from the charity stripe. Two jumpers from Dana Webster and Miranda Seto put the Tritons on top, 34-32, going into halftime.
HSU's Kersey Wilcox scored six straight points and was able to tie the game, 40-40, with only a little more than four minutes gone by in the second period. It would be the closest the Jacks would get as Shokoor's layup gave the Tritons the lead for good. UCSD opened up a 10-point lead, 57-47, after a Taylor Tanita three-pointer.
HSU fought back as they closed the margin to five, 64-59, with only 4:10 remaining in the game. The Lumberjacks needed more time to mount a comeback and resorted to fouling to stop the clock, but the Tritons were able to make 14 consecutive free throws to seal the 15-point victory, 78-63.
"It was a great win on the road against a quality opponent," said head coach Heidi VanDerveer. "I thought that our defense, especially in the last 30 minutes, was very solid. We executed our defensive game plan and did not give up easy shots to shooters. We did a really good job rebounding and were able to get out in transition."
UCSD outrebounded HSU 40-32 on the glass, 32-20 in defensive boards.
Shokoor led the way for the Tritons with her 14th double-double of the season with game bests of 20 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Webster and Beth Mounier each scored 12 points off the bench.
Wilcox paced the Jacks with 18 points.
UCSD will have a day off for travel before going to Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, Feb. 28 to close out the regular season.
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