The Game Sacramento State embarks on its second game of a four-game road trip, visiting Northern Arizona on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. The Lumberjacks are 11-6 overall and 2-2 in the Big Sky.
The Hornets have dropped the last 14 games to Northern Arizona in the series, with the Lumberjacks holding the lead of a 17-2 all-time series record.
Sacramento State is winless in Flagstaff, Ariz. and the team has only won one road game this season.
A match-up may come on the defensive end for Sacramento State as Northern Arizona averages 17.2 turnovers per game, while the Hornet defense currently leads the Big Sky in steals at 11.2 per game. The Lumberjacks are led by sophomore Alyssa Wahl, who is averaging 13.6 points per game. Also averaging doubles figures is Nicky Eason, who is scoring 12.8 points per game. Wahl and Eason also lead Northern Arizona in rebounding, averaging 8.3 and 7.9 rebounds per game, respectivley.
A Look Back
On the first game of their four-game road trip, the Hornets crossed the Causeway for a rematch with UC Davis. Tied 25-25 at the half, the Aggies started the second period on a 16-6 run, shooting 8-of-8 from the floor and scoring on seven of their first eight possessions.
With less than 2:00 to go in the game, Sacramento State closed within four, 69-65, on a three-pointer from Stephanie Cherry. But the Hornets failed to score on their next four possessions and the Aggies sealed the game on the free-throw line.
Sacramento State had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore guard Kim Sheehy, who scored a career-high 17 points, while knocking down a career-high five three-pointers. Also in double figures was junior forward Katelyn Ciampi, who had a season-high tying 14 points to go along with eight rebounds. Senior guard Tyeisha Brown scored in double figures for the 11th time this season finishing with 13 points while junior forward Ashley Cadotte matched her career-high with 12.
Record Breakers
With five wins on the 2004-05 season, the Hornets are beginning to break some records from years past; five wins in 17 games is the best start for the team since the 1995-96 season...when the Hornets defeated Montana State, it was their first Big Sky win at the Nest since a 75-56 win over Portland State during the 2000-01 season...Sacramento State''s home record of 4-4 is the best for the team since the 1999-00 season...Sacramento State is undefeated, 2-0, in overtime games this season...the Hornets also set the program record for fewest opponents'' points scored when New Mexico State posted only 39 points in the Hornets'' 46-39 win on Dec. 21, 2004.
Defense, Defense, Defense
Sacramento State''s aggressive defense is paying off in a big way. The Hornets are averaging a Big Sky-leading 11.2 steals per game. The squad''s ability to wreak havoc on the defensive end of the floor extends to the entire team, with six players averaging at least 1.0 steals per game, led by Brown''s 2.4. The Vallejo, Calif. native has tallied a team-high 40 steals this season, ranking her second in the Big Sky. Sacramento State is also forcing opponents into 19.5 turnovers per game. The team is also averaging 2.7 blocks per game, third in the Big Sky.
Across The Scoreboard
Junior guard Cindy Alldrin came to Sacramento State after being named MVP of the South Division and helping Clackamas Community College to a NWAACC Championship. In 17 games as a Hornet, Alldrin registers in the top five of 10 statistical categories. She is third on the squad in scoring, averaging 7.5 points per game and is also second on the team from the free-throw line, shooting 71.8 percent (28-of-39), although Alldrin has not been to the free-throw line in the last seven games. The Mountain View HS graduate is also averaging a team-high 2.5 assists per game and is third on the squad with 1.3 steals per game.
Relentless Rebounder
Cadotte is pulling down a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, and is ranked seventh overall in the conference in rebounding. She also has two 10+ rebounding games with one double-double. A hard-working, scrappy rebounder under the boards, the Oregon City, Ore., native is sixth in the conference averaging 2.6 offensive rebounds per game, helping the Hornets'' offensive rebounding average increase to 11.81 per game, fifth in the Big Sky.
Bench Mob
Brown and Cherry have come off the bench this season to lead or share the team lead in scoring a combined 11 times. Brown leads the squad and ranks 12th in the Big Sky averaging 10.4 points per game, while Cherry is fourth on the team scoring 6.8 points per game. Cherry played 22 minutes in the Hornets'' OT win over Montana State, including handling the point guard duties down the stretch and in the extra period.
Both players finished with season highs in the 83-76 win over Ohio. The win against Ohio marked the first time the Hornets had scored more than 80 points against a Division I opponent since an 89-83 win over UC Riverside on Jan. 20, 2001. Cherry''s career high of 25 points was the biggest offensive output for a Hornet since Danielle Iceman scored 25 points at Montana on Jan. 26, 2002.
Also contributing from the bench this season have been junior forward Lindsey Heard and freshman guard Ali Mollet. Heard is averaging 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Heard''s 68 rebounds this season rank her third on the team. Her 6-of-6 performance from the free-throw line in OT against Montana State was the best of any Hornet this season. A Kodak All-American at Umpqua CC last season, she has led the Hornets in scoring three times this season.
In her first collegiate season, Mollet has started two games this year and came off the bench in 15. Mollet had her best game of the year in a 59-58 win over UC Riverside, where she scored a career-high 10 points and dished out a career-high five assists.
Always Reliable
Ciampi pulled down her first double-double of the season in the win over Montana State. In addition to tallying 18 steals this season, the Martinez, Calif., native has scored in double figures seven times. Ciampi has now set or matched single-game career highs in minutes (39), rebounds (13), free throws attempted (9), assists (4), steals (4), blocks (3) and three-pointers made (1). She is also fourth in the Big Sky, averaging 1.0 blocks per game.
Senior forward Kristine Knowlton, the only four-year student-athlete on the team, had a season-high three blocks against Weber State, bringing her career total to 145, which ranks her first in Sacramento State Division I history and ninth all-time in the Big Sky. Sheehy, who is in her first year with the Hornets after redshirting last season and playing the 2002-03 season at San Jose State, has now sunk at least one three-pointer in 10-straight games. Her season total climbed to 28, after she sank a career-high five treys at UC Davis. Senior guard Samania Black, who has started in 15-of-17 games this season dished out a season-high four steals against the Bobcats.
Free-Throw Woes
In the Hornets first Big Sky victory, a 70-65 victory over Montana State, Ciampi, Sheehy and Heard made free throws when it counted, combining to go 9-of-10 from the line in overtime. But on the season, Sacramento State has failed to be as successful. From the line, the team is averaging 60.6 percent (166-of-274), led by Heard who is shooting 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the stripe.
Head Coach Dan Muscatell
Dan Muscatell became the sixth Sacramento State women''s basketball head coach in the program''s 38-year history last season, after spending four seasons as an assistant at Oregon (1999-03). He earned his first win with the Hornets on Jan. 14, 2004, with a 56-50 win at Portland State.
Muscatell has already collected five wins this season, the team''s best start since the 1995-96 season.
Sacramento State''s up-tempo defense is creating 11.2 steals per game and forcing its opponents into 19.5 turnovers per game.
Last season Muscatell''s squad finished third in the Big Sky conference, averaging 8.67 steals per game. Sacramento State also finished fourth in conference with 3.44 blocked shots per game.
While at Oregon, Muscatell was involved in all aspects of the program, including the coordination of recruiting efforts and the coaching of offense and defense. He also worked with both the perimeter and post players.
While at Oregon, the Everett, Wash., native was responsible for bringing in one of the nation''s top recruiting classes in 2001, a six-member class that was ranked 17th in the nation by All-Star Girls Report. Muscatell also coached or recruited current and former WNBA players Edneisha Curry, Jenny Mowe, Angelina Wolvert and Shaquala Williams.
During his four years at Oregon, the Ducks were ranked in the top 25 during three of those seasons, including two top-10 finishes in 2000 and 2001. The program also combined to post a record of 74-49 while capturing two NCAA Tournament berths (2000 and 2001), a National Invitational Tournament (NIT) title (2002) and a Pac-10 crown (2000).
