WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS IN OVERTIME TO IDAHO STATE, 69-67

3/5/2010

POCATELLO, Idaho - The Sacramento State women's basketball team came back from a 55-50 deficit with 3:24 remaining to take a three point lead at 58-55 with 22 seconds left in regulation, but fell in overtime to the Idaho State Bengals by a final score of 69-67.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 14-14 overall, 9-6 in Big Sky play, while the Bengals improve to 15-14, 10-6 in the Big Sky Conference. With the Idaho State victory, Eastern Washington has clinched the 2010 Big Sky regular season title, and will host next week's Big Sky Tournament.

Idaho State held a 52-44 advantage with 5:48 remaining before Sacramento State would go on a comeback to take a late lead. Senior Erika Edwards (Redmond, Wash.) started the rally with a three-pointer, and junior Tika Koshiyama-Diaz (San Jose, Calif.) converted a three-point play to pull the Hornets within two. Chelsea Pickering knocked down a three-pointer to give the Bengals back a five point lead with 3:24 remaining, but Sacramento State would have the answer the next time down the floor, as junior Emily Christensen (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) hit a three-pointer of her own, cutting the ISU lead to 55-53 with 3:08 to play in regulation. Christensen would give the Hornets the lead with 1:34 remaining in the second half, knocking down another trey to put Sacramento State in front 56-55.

The Hornet lead would grow to 58-55 with :22 seconds remaining on an offensive rebound and putback from senior Charday Hunt (Portland, Ore.), but Idaho State would tie it as Morgan Wohltman came off the bench for her lone action of the second half and knocked down the tying three-pointer with :16 seconds remaining. Sacramento State would have the last shot of regulation, but Hunt had her three-point attempt blocked by Andrea Videbeck, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Koshiyama-Diaz scored the first bucket for either club, giving the Hornets a 61-58 lead with a three-pointer. After Ashleigh Vella cut the lead to one with a layup for ISU, Edwards knocked down a three-pointer to give the Hornets a four point edge, 64-60. The Bengals took a 66-64 lead on a 6-0 run with 2:15 remaining until Edwards knocked down her second three-pointer of the overtime session to give Sacramento State a 67-66 lead. The score would remain that way until Videbeck made a layup with :14 seconds remaining, which gave Idaho State a 68-67 lead. Sacramento State turned the ball over coming back down the floor, and the Hornets sent Pickering to the line shooting 1-and-1. She missed the front end, but got her own miss and proceeded to make 1-of-2 during her next foul trip, giving Idaho State a 69-67 lead with less than five seconds remaining. Videbeck would steal the inbound pass and give Idaho State the victory, avenging their only loss in school history to the Hornets which came earlier this season in Sacramento.

Hunt led the way for the Hornets, scoring 16 points while pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds. Edwards, who in the first half was 0-of-7 from the floor and 0-of-6 from three-point territory, knocked down 5-of-6 from three in the second half and overtime to finish with 15 points. Christensen added 13 points and nine boards for the Hornets, while Koshiyama-Diaz and senior Ashley Garcia (Antioch, Calif.) finished with nine points apiece.

Oana Iacovita and Vella led the Bengals with 18 points apiece, while Pickering scored 13 points off the bench. The Bengals shot 46.6 percent (27-of-58) from the floor, outshooting the Hornets who were just 25-of-76 (32.9 percent). The Hornets were able to grab 25 offensive rebounds and convert them into 19 points.

Sacramento State will look to improve their seeding in the conference tournament when they close out the regular season on Saturday at Weber State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 Pacific Time from Ogden, Utah.