SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sha'Tasha Allen scored four of her team-high 17

points during the final two minutes of the game to lead Cal State

Northridge to a 75-70 victory over the Sacramento State women's

basketball team in a Big Sky Conference contest Thursday evening in

Hornet Gym.

Trailing, 71-68, with possession of the ball and 38 seconds to play,

Hornet forward Sephora Scoubes' pass was stolen by LaShaunda Fowler,

who was quickly fouled. After Fowler made both free throws to push

the Matador lead to five, the Hornets' Kelly Hodges converted on a

lay-up to cut the lead to three with 12 seconds. With seven seconds

to play, the Hornets then fouled Allen, who knocked down both free

throws to ice the game.

With the victory, Cal State Northridge improved to 9-11 overall and

5-4 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State fell to 3-14 and 1-6 in the

conference despite Michelle St. Clair's game-high 28 points. St.

Clair, who knocked down four three-pointers and went 8-of-8 from the

free throw line, has now led the Hornets in scoring in each of the

last five games and eight of the last nine.

Both teams played even through the first 12 minutes of the contest as

no one opened up a lead larger than four points. Leading, 36-30, with

37 seconds left in the first, Cal State Northridge closed the half on

a 5-0 run capped by a Myesha Saleem lay-up at the buzzer. Saleem

finished the half with 11 of her 13 points while St. Clair led all

scorers with 15 at the break.

Trailing, 41-30, at the half, the Hornets opened up the second frame

on an 18-7 run to tie the score at 48-48 with 12:12 remaining. Both

teams traded baskets for nearly nine minutes before Fowler and Allen

knocked down consecutive jumpers to give the Matadors a seven-point

lead, 71-64, with 1:56 remaining. Lay-ups by Scoubes and Torilynn

Boyd then followed with consecutive lay-ups to cut the lead to 71-68.

Sacramento State shot just .373 (22-59) from the field while the

Matadors connected on 51.9 percent (28-54) from the field. The

Matadors also held the advantage in rebounds, 40-31.

Besides St. Clair's performance three other Hornets scored in double

figures including Scoubes (14 points, nine rebounds), Tola Tallman

(11 points, eight rebounds) and Boyd (11 points).

The Hornets travel to Pocatello, Idaho, this Saturday, Feb. 3, to

take on Idaho State.