The loss was a critical one, as the Hornets, 8-15 overall and 3-8 in the Big Sky Conference, are battling for a spot in the postseason conference tournament. With the top six teams advancing to the tournament, Sacramento State currently sits seventh in the Big Sky standings, a full game behind Portland State (10-13, 4-6). The Hornets, now on a four-game losing streak, have three games left to play in the regular season.

For the Bobcats (3-19, 2-8), it was their first win on the road this year, led by Whitney Connolly’s career-high 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting.

Sacramento State was led by senior forward Ashley Cadotte, who registered her third double-double of the season with a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures was junior guard Kim Sheehy with 14 points, including three buckets from behind the arc. Junior point guard Stephanie Cherry added 10 points and a season-high tying eight rebounds in addition to a team-high four steals.

Montana State shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the floor, while Sacramento State shot 35.8 percent (29-of-81) from the floor and committed 19 turnovers.

After the first half, the Hornets held just a 31-29 lead at the break. Cherry helped spur Sacramento State with consecutive three-pointers to start the second half as the Hornets went on a 16-4 run in the first five minutes. With a 47-35 lead and 15:40 remaining in the second half, the Bobcats used a 16-4 run of their own to tie the game at 51-51 with 11:00 left

Connolly did most of her damage in the second half, scoring 21 points. Montana State had five players finish in double figures, with Jenny Heringer adding 15 points and Alyssa Nelson contributing 13 points on a 9-of-12 performance from the free-throw line.

The game was plagued with a combined 49 fouls. The Bobcats made 32 trips to the charity stripe and Sacramento State went to the line 22 times. The Hornets also had players in foul trouble with Cherry and guard Cindy Alldrin both fouling out late in the second half.

The Bobcats enhanced their advantage to 67-60 with 5:31 left in regulation, but Sacramento State cut the lead after two inside baskets from Cadotte and a defensive steal from Cherry that led to a Lindsay Calmettes’ breakaway layup. The Gresham, Ore., native was fouled on the play and converted the layup to give the Hornets a 73-71 lead with 2:04 remaining. Sophomore guard Ali Mollet nailed a baseline jumper with 44 seconds left giving Sacramento State a 75-72 lead, but Connolly drained her second three-pointer of the game with 29 seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra five minutes, Montana State scored the first baskets of the game and never looked back. Nelson was 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, while the Hornets missed five three-point attempts.

Sacramento State next plays league-leading Northern Arizona at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 in a doubleheader with the men’s team. The game will be the final home game for seniors Katelyn Ciampi, Cindy Alldrin, Ashley Cadotte, Lindsay Calmettes and Lindsey Heard.