Box Score: Coyotes 68, Humboldt State 60

SAN BERNARDINO -- One-year wonder Eisha Sheppard came through again for the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes as the senior scored 21 points with a season-best six steals in 40 minutes of play as the fourth-seeded Coyotes defeated fifth-seed Humboldt State 68-60 in the first round of the CCAA Tournament on Tuesday night.

The Coyotes, now 21-6 overall, will face top seed Cal State Monterey Bay at 8 p.m. Friday in the conference semifinals to be played at Cal State East Bay.

CSUSB never trailed in its game against the Lumberjacks and won for the third time this season against HSU. Sheppard, who transfered from Oregon State, hit 8 of 17 from the floor with six rebounds. Fellow senior Sabrina Gonzalez tallied 13 and Amber Glasser had 10.

The biggest difference in the game came by points off turnovers as CSUSB held a 24-9 advantage.

The Coyotes built the lead to as large as 13 with 49 seconds left. HSU cut the difference to single digits with the three ball. The Lumberjacks missed on their first eight attempts from beyond the arc until hitting three in the final 45 seconds.

Twice in the first half, HSU got to within a point, only to be turned back. Leading 16-15, Sheppard scored two quick baskets to push the lead to six with 8:03 left. And leading 29-28 with 1:28 left, Angela Streets hit a 3-pointer that gave CSUSB a 32-28 lead at the break.

In the second half, the Coyotes put the game out of reach on a 10-4 run that was capped by Sheppard's layup and CSUSB up 59-47 with 2:54 left.

The Coyotes face the top-seeded Otters in the semifinals. CSUMB won both contests this season by 19 points.

Kayla Williams had 16 for the Lumberjacks, who finished the season 15-12.