Humboldt State Women’s Basketball Team will start off its 2021-22 season with an exhibition game against Southern Oregon on October 29 with a scheduled tip-off time of 5:30pm at Lumberjack Arena.  Sixth-year head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson welcomes ten newcomers to the 2021-22 squad that have not played a game since March 3, 2020. 

 “We are very excited to finally have competition,” said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson.  “Not only will our girls be putting on uniforms for the first time in a very long time, but they will all be putting on Humboldt State uniforms for the first time ever as they are all new to HSU.”

 Several of the Lumberjacks were able to practice last season during the pandemic year while freshman local standout Jadence Clifton is the only real newcomer to the ‘Jacks.  The transfers are Julia Iman, Samantha Caires, Sharon Roldan, Ashley Taylor Peralta and Citlaly Davalos. The four freshmen besides Clifton are Kaz Parks, Katie Schwan, Mariah Barraza and Madison Parry.

 “Our objective for our non-conference games is to always play as many regional games as we can and we accomplished that in our game schedule for this year,” noted Bento-Jackson.  “Once again, we open up the season playing in the West Region Crossover Classic which is highly competitive as we will be playing two tough teams from the GNAC.  This will be a great test for us.  We finish off non-conference games against Dominican University and then we begin the challenges that the CCAA presents.  Every game in the CCAA will bring different challenges to us and our focus will remain to take one game at a time.”

 After the Lumberjacks’ exhibition game, HSU will open up its 2021-22 regular season in Seattle, Wash., for the CCAA/GNAC Challenge on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.  The ‘Jacks will take on Western Washington and Seattle Pacific on November 12 and 13.  After Seattle, HSU will travel to the Bay Area to face Dominican University on November 17 in San Rafael.  The Lumberjacks’ home opener is set for November 27 at 2pm against Dominican University. 

 Humboldt State will begin its 22-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season with a pair of home games on December 2 and 4 against San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay.  The ‘Jacks will go on the road for a three-game stretch beginning with Stanislaus State on December 11 followed by Chico State on December 18 and Sonoma State on December 20.

 HSU will return home in the New Year when the ‘Jacks face Sonoma State  in a 1pm scheduled tip-off on January 2.  The ‘Jacks will go on the road in Southern California when they face Cal State San Marcos and Cal State Los Angeles on January 6 and 8. They will come back home to Lumberjack Arena to face Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona on January 13 and 15. 

 The ‘Jacks will go back on the road to face Cal State East Bay in Hayward on January 20 and Cal State Dominguez Hills on January 22 in Carson. The Lumberjacks will come back home for a pair of games on January 27 and 29 against Chico State and Stanislaus State respectively.  HSU will return to the Bay Area to face Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State on February 3 and 5. 

 They will come back to the friendly confines of Lumberjack Arena to face Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State East Bay on February 10 and 12.  Their final road trip of the regular season will be in Southern California when the ‘Jacks take on Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino on February 17 and 19.

 “I’m anxious to get started and for our team to see first-hand what Division II basketball is all about considering all but one are new to this level of competition,’ added Coach Bento-Jackson. “They will quickly learn that we must bring maximum effort and focus each and every night to give ourselves a chance to be successful.”

 Humboldt State will finish off its regular with a two-game homestand against Cal State Los Angeles (February 24) and Cal State San Marcos (February 26).  The ‘Jacks will host the 2021-22 CCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships March 3-5.