ARCATA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's basketball team shot 51.9 percent (27-52) from the field and 40 percent (8-20) from behind the arc to take down Humboldt State 76-51 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup Thursday at Lumberjack Arena. After leading by seven, 36-29, at halftime, the Tritons outscored the Lumberjacks 40-22 in the second half.
"We are very excited about our road win," said head coach Heidi VanDerveer. "Humboldt is always a tough trip and they are talented and well coached."
UCSD improve to 16-3 overall and 11-2 in the conference. HSU drops to 8-11 and 5-7 in CCAA play.
Senior guard Jamie Katuna carried the Tritons and scored a game-high 28 points, shooting 66.6 percent (10-15) from the field, 60 percent (3-5) from three and perfect (5-5) from the charity stripe. Senior forward game-best Farrah Shokoor narrowly missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Taylor Tanita dished out four assists. A'Jaee Foster and Amada Kunst led the Lumberjacks with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
UCSD scored the first five points of the game and never looked back. The Tritons took a 10-point advantage, 21-11, after the opening quarter with Shokoor's layup right before the buzzer.
"Our defense set the tone from the beginning. We were able to dictate the tempo of the game," said VanDerveer.
HSU closed the gap to four points after a 6-0 run to begin the second period. The Lumberjacks cut the margin to as much as three, twice, but UCSD was able to create separation after three-pointers from freshman guard Joleen Yang and junior guard Haley Anderson. The Tritons led by seven, 36-29, at the intermission.
HSU reduced the gap to three once again in the third frame after a jumper from Sophie Northern. The Tritons then scored seven unanswered, capped off by a Shokoor trey, to take a 10-point lead. A free throw from Kelci Haueter cut it to nine as UCSD took a 49-40 advantage into the final quarter.
The Tritons outscored the Lumberjacks 27-11 in the fourth period. UCSD scored 13 consecutive, with a layup from sophomore forward GiGi Olelewe coming at the tail end of it, to take its biggest lead of the game by 28 points. HSU's Kunst nailed a three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining, as the Tritons let the clock run out to prevail by 25.
The Tritons will have a day off before traveling to Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Jan. 30. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
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