by Alexis Blue

After a first round bye and automatic advance into the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament semifinal as the No. 2 seed, Humboldt’s women’s basketball tipped off against the No. 3 California State University, Los Angeles in Pomona, Calif. on March 6. The Jacks battled back-and-forth with the Los Angeles Golden Eagles for a spot in the championship as Lumberjacks Jordyn Smith and Shade Satica poured points on the board. Smith recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Satica scored 15 points with seven rebounds and three steals. 

Despite a hard fought battle, the Jacks fell 87-55 to the Golden Eagles, concluding their 2026 season after a fantastic run. Though they fell short of the championship, Humboldt women’s basketball’s standout season included five student-athletes earning 2025-26 All-CCAA Team. Satica earned CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, CCAA Newcomer of the Year and was named to the All-CCAA First Team; Smith earned CCAA Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-CCAA First Team; and Riley Sanz, Sienna Cherwinski and Jada Barnes all received All-CCAA Honorable Mention. At the Tournament, Sanz was also awarded the CCAA Elite 13 Award —  an award presented to student-athletes based on their academic and athletic achievements. Three out of five of the CCAA major award winners are Humboldt’s very own. 

Men’s basketball took to the court March 5 in Pomona, Calif., where they played against the No. 6 seed California State University, San Marcos, in the quarterfinal of the CCAA Tournament. Their third match-up against the San Marcos this season and the second in less than a week, the Lumberjacks came prepared and comfortably earned a 62-52 victory over San Marcos to advance to the CCAA semifinals on March 6. 

The Lumberjacks returned to the court again on March 6 where they faced the No. 2 seed and CCAA Tournament defending champions, California State University, Dominguez Hills for the semifinal. The Jacks and Dominguez Hills Toros shared an intense performance with 15 lead changes, all within three points in the last five minutes and into overtime. With three seconds left on the clock in regulation, the Jacks led 66-64 — until two free throws from the Toros sent the game into overtime. In the overtime period, Lumberjack Tyriq McNeal tipped the scales in Humboldt’s favor with a 76-75 lead and final score. 

Senior center Shakir Odunewu’s career-high performance and outstanding offensive effort also helped lead the Jacks to victory. Odunewu dropped 34 points, going 16-for-20 on the free-throw line, had 12 rebounds and his eighth double-double of the season. Accounting for almost half of Humboldt’s points, Odunewu helped his team secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2016.

On Saturday, March 7, the Jacks competed against No. 1 seed and undefeated California State University, East Bay. With five ties and eight lead changes, the Jacks competed with one of the top teams in the country before they fell 80-63 to the East Bay Pioneers in the CCAA Tournament Championship.  

After three strong performances on the court in the Tournament, Lumberjacks Odunewu and Zaveion Bineyard were named to the CCAA All-Tournament Team. Additionally, Bineyard received First Team All-CCAA recognition, and Rob Jenkins and Odunewu garnered All-CCAA Second Team recognition. Humboldt guard Brandon Bento-Jackson was also awarded the CCAA Elite 13 Award.

On Sunday night, March 8, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Men’s Basketball Selection Show revealed that Cal Poly Humboldt’s men’s basketball season isn’t over. Humboldt received a bid from the NCAA and secured a spot as the No. 8 seed in the 2026 NCAA West Regional Tournament. The Jacks will go toe-to-toe once again with the No. 1 seed and CCAA Tournament Champions East Bay on March 13 in Hayward, Calif. 

Additional sports highlights: 

Men’s Track & Field

At the Sam Adams Combined Events at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), decathletes Bryce Pearson and Collin Friedman got National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II provisional marks with their performances. Competing in ten separate events, both athletes recorded a top-5 performance in Humboldt history. Joseph Gonzalez set a new school record in shot put with 16.35m at the Kim Duyst Invitational in Turlock.

Women’s Track & Field

Decathlete Cocome McKamey placed fifth in the heptathlon at the Sam Adams Combined Events at UCSB, earning an NCAA Division II provisional mark. McKamey received second in 100-meter hurdles with a 14.85 and high jump of 1.60m. At the Kim Duyst Invitational, Freshman Caitlyn Dougherty ran a #4 all-time mark in the 100m (12.18) and #3 all time mark in the 200m (24.51)

Rowing

Women’s rowing was unanimously selected as the 2026 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women’s Rowing Preseason Favorite, as well as ranked No. 2 in the national Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Division II Preseason Poll. Lumberjacks Royce Ankel and Ellie Walters were named to the CRCA Watch List. 

Triathlon

Women’s triathlon competed in the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge on Feb. 28 in Clermont, Fla. In a mixed field of Division I and Division II teams, the Jacks placed fifth overall and third amongst DII. Top performances were from Poppy Edge, who finished in 15th overall, Anna Hanstveit in 17th overall and Emma Hanstveit in 18th. `

Alexis Blue is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism – public relations and minoring in writing. In her free time, you’ll probably find her drinking coffee, watching sunsets, collecting shells on the beach and playing soccer.