Sacramento State jumped back into the thick of things with a 2-0 sweep last week, recording victories over Eastern Washington, 69-61, and Portland State, 70-65.

The Hornets used a variety of threats in each game, registering five players in double figures against the Eagles, led by Stephanie Cherry''s game-high 20 points, career-high tying four three-pointers and career-high tying five steals. Sacramento State has now registered victories over the Eagles in the teams'' last three meetings.

Junior guard Kim Sheehy added 12 points and senior forward Ashley Cadotte contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

But it was Lindesy Heard''s first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds that made the difference. In her 23 minutes, she knocked down two treys and tallied two steals. Senior guard Cindy Alldrin had two straight games posting double figures, first with 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and 8-of-8 shooting from thee free-throw line against the Eagles.

The Vancouver, Wash., native followed up that performance with her first career double-double, 19 points and 13 rebounds (seven offensive), against Portland State on Saturday. She was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe and also dished out three assists.

Cadotte and Ciampi also registered double-doubles. Cadotte tallied12 points and a career-high tying 16 rebounds while Ciampi posted season highs with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The victories also improved the Hornets'' record at home to 7-2.

MORE RECORDS

With an 8-11 record overall and a 3-4 record in the Big Sky, Sacramento State looks braced to improve both marks for the second consecutive season. The Hornets'' eight wins already equal their win total from a year ago, while they are just one conference victory short of reaching last year''s 4-10 finish. Sacramento State is also now averaging 60.9 points per game, besting last year''s total of 56.1 per game.

Cindy Alldrin – who is currently ranked 14th in the nation from the free-throw line, shooting 89.4 percent (59-of-66) – is on pace to set a new program record.

The Hornets 6.7 three-pointers per game also ranks 25th in the nation. If able to continue that pace for the rest of the year, the team could finish with 174 treys, which would set a new program record. The team''s total of 128 three-pointers is just 22 short of breaking the current record of 149, which was set a year ago.

Kim Sheehy has knocked down 48 three-pointers this year, just seven off her mark from last season when the Santa Fe, N.M. native drained 55. In just her second season at Sacramento State, she ranks third in program history with 103 from beyond the arc.

Sheehy is also maintaining a .385 three-point field goal percentage and if she stays at that mark it would tie her for the third best all-time single season mark.

THE X-FACTOR

Cindy Alldrin is averaging 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and has proven to be a difference-maker this season. In her second season out of Clackamas CC, Alldrin has led the team in scoring on seven occasions and also is averaging 2.6 assists per game.

She had one of her best weekends in the Hornets'' sweep of Eastern Washington and Portland State. For the week, she averaged 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while sinking 13-of-14 free throws. In the final minute against the Eagles, Alldrin was a clutch 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.

UNDER THE GLASS

Senior Ashley Cadotte has shown her relentless under the glass this season, rebounding in double figures three times and leading the team in rebounding 12 times. She has recorded two games with at least 16 rebounds and has four double-doubles during her career.

The Oregon City, Ore., native is averaging 8.6 points and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds per game. She also leads the team with 45 steals to her credit and has dealt out 36 assists.

AN OFFENSIVE THREAT

Junior Stephanie Cherry has stepped up her scoring against Big Sky competition. The 5-foot-6 point guard is also averaging a team-best 12.7 points and 3.4 assists per game, while leading the team playing 33.7 minutes per game at the point.

Known for her high-pressure on-the-ball defense, Cherry is also averaging 2.0 steals per game in league play, while shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 36.3 percent from the floor overall.

MEDIA BROADCASTS

Sacramento State fans can follow the action of both games this weekend. Weber State offers a live audio broadcast available on www.weber.edu/athletics. Idaho State''s audio broadcast is available on isubengals.com.

THE OPPONENTS

The second round of Big Sky Conference play begins this weekend for Sacramento State, on the road at Weber State and Idaho State.

In their first meetings earlier this year at the Hornets Nest, Sacramento State dropped both games in heartbreaking fashion – losing both games by a combined five points while failing to convert the game-tying or winning baskets.

The Wildcats (11-9, 5-2), who host the Hornets at 6:05 p.m. PST on Thursday, are currently second in the Big Sky standings.

Weber State is led by Sara Tuomi''s 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Chelsey Warburton is shooting a Big Sky-leading 39.3 percent from behind the arc, averaging 2.85 treys per game.

Against conference competition, Weber State is shooting 43.0 percent from three-point range, while averaging a Big Sky-best 7.86 treys per game. The Wildcats are currently on a two-game winning streak and are winners of five of their last six games. Their only loss was in overtime, 82-81, to Idaho State.

The Bengals (10-11, 4-3) are currently tied for third in the Big Sky standings. Idaho State''s offense is averaging 77.6 points per game, due in part to the Big Sky leading 166 three-pointers the Bengals have knocked down this season. Andrea Lightfoot and Natalie Doma are the league''s top two leading scorers, averaging 17.7 and 17.5 points per game, respectively. Joanna Hixon also ranks second in the Big Sky with 8.0 boards per game.

HEAD COACH DAN MUSCATELL

Dan Muscatell became the sixth Sacramento State women''s basketball head coach in the program''s 40-year history in March of 2003, 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 (17-57) posted an 8-20 record last season, the team''s best mark since the 1995-96 season and advanced the team to the Big Sky postseason tournament for just the second time since the Hornets joined the Big Sky in 1996. The team also led the Big Sky with 10.5 steals 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).