Junior Sydney Gatson |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sarah Hedgepeth recorded game highs in points (31), rebounds (12) and steals (four) to lead Portland State to a 77-51 victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Thursday evening at the Hornet Nest.The game marked the Big Sky opener for both teams. Portland State won its second in a row while improving to 6-8 overall and 1-0 in the Big Sky. The Hornets dropped to 2-12 and 0-1 in the conference.
After the Hornets jumped out to a quick 5-3 lead, Portland State went on a 23-3 run over the next six minutes to take a 26-8 lead at the 11:07 mark of the first half. Sacramento State responded with a 15-2 run to slice the deficit to 28-23 at the 4:49 mark. The Hornets would get no closer the rest of the game as Portland State extended a five-point halftime lead to 18 (58-40) by going on a 22-9 run to begin the second half.
Sacramento State went scoreless during the final 5:23 of the contest as Portland State’s 26-point margin of victory was also the team’s largest lead of the night. PSU outrebounded the Hornets, 47-33, and shot 46.5 percent (33-71) from the field. The Vikings had numerous points in the paint as Hedgepeth finished 12-of-20 from the floor, including seven offensive rebounds.
A total of four Portland State players scored in double figures comprising Hedgepeth, Nikki Petticrew (14), Heidi Stuart (11) and Niki Sadowski (10). Stuart added a game-high nine assists while committing just two turnovers.
Sacramento State, which was forced into 22 turnovers, struggled from the field (33.3 percent, 18-54) and the free-throw line (61.9 percent, 13-21). The team’s 33 rebounds were a season low.
The Hornets were led by three players in double figures including juniors Sydney Gatson (12 points and a team-best eight rebounds) and Nichole Hardaway (10 points), and freshman Sarah Craig (10 points). Gatson (5-of-10) and sophomore Kristine Knowlton (2-of-2) were the only Hornets to shoot above 40 percent from the field.
After missing four of the previous five games with a foot injury, junior Dolores Olivarez had three points, three rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. Freshman Katelyn Ciampi missed her seventh-consecutive game with a foot injury.
The Hornets wrap up their six-game homestand this Saturday, Jan. 18, as they host Eastern Washington in a Big Sky contest at 7:05 p.m.
