The Hornets are now 8-14 overall and 3-7 in the Big Sky Conference, still trailing Portland State (9-13, 3-6) by a half game for the final seed in postseason tournament. Sacramento State has four games left in the regular season in its quest two make its second consecutive postseason appearance.

The Grizzlies improve to 17-5 and 6-3 in league play.

Montana guard Katie Edwards scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while center Tamara Guardipee added 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks to lead the Grizzlies.

Montana was the first opponent of the Hornets to shoot over 50 percent this season, knocking down 33-of-64 (51.6 percent) attempts from the floor.

For the fifth consecutive game, Sacramento State guard Cindy Alldrin scored in double figures adding 16 points and 5-of-6 shooting from the free-throw line. Junior guard Kim Sheehy added 12 points and knocked down two three-pointers, keeping her 28-game three-point streak alive.

Montana, the defending Big Sky champions, jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held Sacramento State scoreless until the 13:15 mark when Ashley Cadotte scored the Hornets’ first basket of the game. The Grizzlies built their lead to double digits, 30-20, by the 5:57 mark after Mandy Morales drained a three-pointer. The freshman guard finished with 10 points and a game-high nine assists.

At the half Montana built its lead to 46-25, backed by a combined 23 points from Edwards and Guardipee.

The Hornets, now on a three-game losing streak, shot a season-low 25.9 percent (15-of-58) from the floor and were just 3-of-19 from beyond the arc. The Hornets were also outrebounded 47-30 and committed 17 turnovers.

Sacramento State returns to the Hornets Nest at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, hosting Montana State (2-19, 1-8).