Lydon delivers late, Wildcats edge Lumberjacks 64-62

Chico State beats Humboldt State for the 14th straight time at Acker Gym

CHICO – Taylor Lydon’s senior season had gotten off to a somewhat slow start – the Chico native had scored just eight points in the Wildcat women’s basketball team’s first four games. But in Friday’s see-saw battle with Humboldt State, Lydon came up huge and turned in her best performance of the young season, scoring seven points in the second half and hitting the game-winning 3-pointer to lead the ’Cats to a thrilling 64-62 victory over the Lumberjacks at Acker Gym to keep Chico State’s unblemished record intact.

Friday’s win moves Chico State to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Humboldt State suffered its third straight defeat to fall to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play.


Kristin Marquardt led the Wildcats Friday with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Kristin Marquardt led a balanced Wildcat scoring attack, matching her season high with 10 points while pulling down eight rebounds, dishing out three assists and grabbing three steals. Lydon tallied season-bests with nine points and seven boards, with Natasha Smith, Molly Collins and Pauline Ferrall contributing eight points apiece. Jenna Hamilton connected for four 3-pointers for Humboldt State to lead all scorers with 17 points, while Bree Halsey registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jeanette DeWitt also scored 12 points for the Lumberjacks in the losing effort.

Humboldt State jumped out to a sizeable lead early in the first half – already up by three, the Lumberjacks used 3-pointers by Hamilton and Taylor Kilgore to spur an 11-4 run as Humboldt bolted to a 20-10 advantage. Chico State scored 14 of the next 19 points to pull to within one – a Ferrall layup, a Smith 3-pointer and jumper, a Lydon layup and back-to-back buckets by Courtney Harrison pulled the Wildcats to within 25-24. Humboldt answered with a 9-0 run – seven of the points coming on free throws – to push its lead back to 10, but layups by Courtney Hamilton and a buzzer-beating shot by Collins whittled the deficit to 34-28 at halftime.

Chico State carried the momentum into the second period, scoring nine of the first 11 points to take a 37-36 lead. The run came with a hefty price, though, as Smith sustained a knee injury driving to the basket, and was forced to sit out the rest of the game. Even with their leading scorer on the bench, the Wildcats were able to build its advantage to 41-36. Humboldt State went on a 14-9 run to knot up the contest at 50 apiece, but a Marquardt jumper and two Jazmine Miller free throws put Chico State back on top 54-50.

The ’Cats were still up 60-57 before a Kayla Williams layup and and a pair of Jeanette DeWitt free throws gave the Lumberjacks a 61-60 lead with 4:05 to play. The Wildcats had four straight opportunities to go back in front, but with just over two minutes left, Chico State was still down by a point. That’s when Lydon stepped up to hit what turned out to be the game-winner, taking a Collins pass and draining a 3-pointer from the left wing to put the ’Cats up 63-61. A Halsey free throw cut the Chico State lead to one, and with 12 seconds left, Humboldt had the ball with a chance to win it. DeWitt, though, missed a midrange jumper and Halsey’s follow-up rattled out, with Lydon snaring the rebound and sinking a free throw on the other end to cement the Wildcats’ heart-stopping 64-62 victory.

The Wildcats are back in action Saturday, hosting Sonoma State. The Seawolves bring a 3-1 record to Acker Gym after dropping a 78-72 overtime decision Friday to Cal State Stanislaus. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.; fans can follow the game via Live Stats, available on the Chico State Athletics website. The contest will also be broadcast live on ESPN 101.7 and 1340 AM locally and through the Wildcat Athletics website.