by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez
The Lumberjacks played against the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on Friday, Nov. 14, ultimately falling 75-82. The first two periods seemed promising with the Jacks leading the game, ending with a score of 42-36 at half. However, the momentum flipped during the second half, allowing the Nighthawks to pull ahead and secure a seven-point win.
The Jacks set the tone early. Although the Nighthawks opened with a quick 5-3 lead, the Jacks answered and gradually took control of the first half. They closed the first quarter up 21–15 after a late basket and carried that momentum into the second, maintaining a steady lead. Humboldt’s Jordyn Smith added key points late in the period, which helped the Jacks stay ahead by six at halftime.
The second half was the turning point. Northwest Nazarene gained momentum in the third period when Trinide Nichols scored a three-pointer during the first minute, followed by another three points by Hadley Craig midway through the period, tightening up the game. Right before the buzzer, the Nighthawks scored another two points, taking a seven-point lead into the fourth.
In the last period, the Lumberjacks tried to close the gap, scoring early to bring the momentum back in their favor. However, Northwest Nazarene continued to capitalize on free throws, while the Jacks struggled at the line. In the last seconds of the game, the Nighthawks added two more points, sealing their victory.
Head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson acknowledged those challenges after the game, pointing out the team’s struggle in the second half.
“We just have to collectively learn that when you know games are going to go up and down, there’s going to be runs,” Bento-Jackson said. “And Nazarene came out, went on a run at the beginning of the third quarter, and we didn’t bounce back. We didn’t answer back to their run, and they pretty much sustained that for the entire second half.”
Carmen is a freshman journalism major whose passion is to write stories for newspapers. She is a writer and photographer, and likes to read and take walks through the forest in her free time. She can be reached at cr433@humboldt.edu
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