Elliot Portillo/Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics – Jordyn Smith in action for the Lumberjacks on Sunday.

The red-hot Cal Poly Humboldt women remain in a three-way for the conference lead in basketball after holding on late for a 74-73 win over Cal State Los Angeles at Lumberjack Arena on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Jacks improved to 6-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and 8-4 overall and they moved three wins clear of the fifth-placed Los Angeles women.

The CPH men, meanwhile, also won their game against Los Angeles, overcoming an 11-point deficit to secure a 75-72 victory

The victory was the third straight for the Jacks, who improved to 4-2 in conference and 6-6 overall.

The Humboldt women are tied for the CCAA lead with Cal Poly Pomona and Chico State, each of which also won over the weekend.

But they needed some late help from the visitors, who missed two free throws in the final seconds.

The 6-0 start marks the Jacks’ best beginning to CCAA play since the 2014 season.

Sunday’s game was a back-and-forth affair and featured eight ties and six lead changes, with neither team able to create much separation throughout the afternoon. 

Humboldt carried a slim 40-38 lead into halftime, and the Jacks answered every Golden Eagle push down the stretch, setting the stage for a dramatic final possession.

Cal State LA had a chance to steal the win at the line in the closing seconds, but both attempts rattled out.

Jordyn Smith anchored Humboldt on both ends, posting a team-high 17 points while pulling down 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Smith also added three blocks and two steals.

Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics

Kyori Lloyd added 15 points and five rebounds, attacking the glass and getting to the free-throw line eight times, while Kya Kanoho provided a spark off the bench with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting.

The Humboldt men, meanwhile, made it three straight wins and moved into a tie for second in the CCAA standings, along with Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Cal State East Bay is 6-0 and two wins clear of the chasing pack atop the standings.

Trailing 67-66 with just over two minutes remaining, Humboldt tightened up defensively.

Zaveion Bineyard stepped up for the home team late, finishing two emphatic and-one plays in the closing minutes.

The junior forward led Humboldt with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting while adding seven rebounds.

Both CPH teams will hit the road this week, with games at San Francisco State on Thursday and at Cal State East Bay on Saturday.