COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NARROWLY EDGED BY MONTANA

2/10/2011

Kylie Kuhns scored 20+ points for the third straight game but the Hornets lost to Montana.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State women's basketball team, down by as much as 18 points to Big Sky Conference foe Montana, cut the Lady Griz's lead to just four with 1:37 left in the game, but the Hornets could not complete the comeback and dropped a 73-64 decision to UM on Thursday night at The Nest.

The Hornets slide to 3-20 (0-10 Big Sky) after the loss while Montana improves to 12-11 (7-3) with the victory.

Down 14 points, 63-49, with 3:32 remaining in the game, the Hornets' press started to pay off. A fatigued Montana squad turned the ball over five times in the next 1:58 and Sacramento State capitalized with an 11-1 run to cut the Montana lead to just four at 64-60.

After Kylie Kuhns rejected the next Lady Griz shot attempt, the Hornets grabbed the loose ball but Montana's Torry Hill immediately stole it away under the Sacramento State basket and hit an easy lay-up to put the Lady Griz up six and they held on for a nine-point win.

Kuhns had 22 points to lead all scorers as well as a game-high 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double and ninth of the season. The sophomore has tallied 20+ points in four of the last five games and currently ranks third in the conference with 15.9 points per game. She also leads the league in rebounding at 11.2 per game.

Sami Field-Polisso, who finished with 17 points, knocked down a pair of free throws to push her consecutive free throws made streak to 20. After missing her second attempt at Pacific in the first game of the season, Field-Polisso has been perfect from the charity stripe and is 21-of-22 on the year.

Jasmine Cannady chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds while Mallorie Franco also helped out on the glass, to the tune of eight boards.

Montana was paced by Katie Baker's 19 points and eight rebounds. Baker came off the bench to play 25 minutes in her third game back after an emergency appendectomy caused her to miss two contests. Three other players also had 10+ points for the Lady Griz.

Sacramento State shot 40-percent from the floor on 26-of-65 shooting, including 7-of-25 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 43 rebounds, committed 24 turnovers and had 19 assists on their 26 made baskets. They went 5-of-9 at the free throw line.

Montana shot 42.7-percent overall on 32-of-75 shooting, with 2-of-15 coming from beyond the arc. The Lady Griz grabbed 45 rebounds, were pressured into 18 turnovers and had 20 assists on 32 made hoops. They went 7-of-12 at the free throw line.

Sacramento State's next home game will be a battle with Montana State at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.