ARCATA, Calif. – Despite a fourth quarter rally that erased a nine-point disadvantage, the Western Oregon women's basketball team dropped its non-conference finale, 65-56, at Humboldt State on Saturday night.
 
The loss for the Wolves moves them to 1-9 on the season while the host Jacks move above the .500-mark at 6-5.
 
Humboldt State took advantage of Western Oregon's 18 fouls, shooting 87 percent (20 of 23) from the foul line compared to just 2 of 2 for the Wolves. WOU posted a better team shooting percentage from the field at 44.4 percent (24 of 54) and behind the arc at 35.3 percent (6 of 17) for the game.
 
"We had three players in double figures and eighteen assists," WOU head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said. "That's a step in the right direction and something for us to build on."
 
Leading the way with 12 points each were shooting guard Sydney Azorr and center Emily Howey, who posted her first career double-double effort with a game-high 13 rebounds. Guard Michelle Bromagem hit three times from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points.
 
Early in the final quarter, the Wolves trailed by nine. Howey connected from short distance to begin an 11-0 run that gave the Wolves the lead for the first time since the opening quarter. Two free throws from Kaylie Boschma preceded another Howey layup and a game-tying 3-pointer from Bromagem. A jump shot from freshman Ali Nelke prior to the quarter's media timeout put WOU ahead, 51-49. Azorr hit a jumper with 4:33 left, but it was the last time the Wolves would hold the lead.
 
"I saw a lot of positives tonight, especially in the second half," Howard-Carpenter expressed. "There was a stretch that we shared the ball and got great looks at the basket and were able to take the lead."
 
Humboldt State pulled away over a three-minute span with an 8-0 run. Charity shots made down the stretch claimed victory for the Jacks.
 
Eight different players scored in the first half, paced by Azorr's five. But the Wolves trailed 32-23 at halftime, even with a 25 to 19 rebounding advantage.
 
Humboldt State was led by 14-point, eight rebounds efforts from Amanda Kunst and A'Jaee Foster.
 
WOU returns to Monmouth on December 31 when it faces Simon Fraser to begin a two-game GNAC homestand. Tip-off on New Year's Eve is at 3 p.m. at the New P.E. Building.