The Sacramento State women’s basketball team used a 16-0 run in the second half to erase a 20-point deficit only to eventually fall to Kansas, 70-64, Saturday evening at the Oregon Classic. The game marked the first contest between the two schools and was the lowest margin of defeat for the Hornets this season.Sacramento State is now 0-4 on the year while Kansas improved to 1-2.
In the first half, the Hornets jumped out to a 6-4 lead three minutes in to the contest. Kansas took control with a 12-5 run to make it 16-11 at the 13:06 mark. For the next seven minutes, Sacramento State cut the deficit to two on two occasions before the Jayhawks opened their biggest lead of the half (36-26) with 1:17 remaining. Sophomore Sarah Craig finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor to pace the squad. The Hornets shot 14-of-26 from the field (.538) in the half.
In the second half, the Jayhawks used a 7-0 run to take advantage in the first three minutes. Kansas would lead by as many as 20 before the Hornets used one of their biggest runs in program history. With senior Diane Peterson, junior Samania Black, sophomores Katelyn Ciampi and Craig and freshman Jessica Voisard on the floor, Sacramento State went on a 16-0 run and held Kansas scoreless for 9:32. With the score 64-60, Kansas’ Blair Waltz ended the run with a pair of free throws with 44 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks converted four more free-throws and held the ball for the remainder of the half to seal the game.
Ciampi finished with a team-high 13 while Craig (12) and Black (10) contributed with double-figure scoring. Nine members of the Hornet squad recorded a basket in the contest. As a team, Sacramento State finished 25-49 (.510) from the floor.
Craig, a native of Calgary, Alberta, was named to the all-Oregon Classic Tournament team. She finished the two-day event with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Hornets will next face Santa Clara for their home opener on Monday, Dec. 1, at 7:05 p.m. at the Hornets Nest.
