For Sacramento State, it was the program’s first home win since a 90-46 win over San Jose Christian on Jan. 09, 2003, breaking a 20-game home losing streak. The victory also breaks an overall 14-game losing streak. It was also the Hornets first home win over a Div. I opponent since a 75-56 win over Portland State during the 2000-01 season and the Hornets’ 1-1 start is the program’s best since the 1999-00 season.

Head coach Dan Muscatell earned his second career victory with four Hornets scoring in double figures, led by junior forward Lindsey Heard. The 6-foot-1, Roseburg, Ore. native, finished with a team-high 13 points while adding five rebounds.

The Hornets took an initial 2-0 lead at the 17:40 mark of the first half, but the Highlanders (0-2) regrouped and took their biggest lead of the game, 23-13, with 7:15 to go in the first half.

Sacramento State narrowed the lead to 32-28 at halftime and went on a 11-6 run, with a three-pointer from Heard to put the Hornets up 39-38 with 14:28 left in the second half. From that point on, UC Riverside regained the lead only once, with the Hornets taking an eight-point lead at the 7:34 mark on a field goal from sophomore guard Stephanie Cherry.

Sacramento State’s offense was sparked by freshman guard Ali Mollet, who scored eight of her 10 points in the final 20 minutes. Mollet shot 5-of-8 from the floor in her 31 minutes with a team-high five assists and two steals.

Also scoring in double figures was junior center Ashley Cadotte, who had a team-high eight rebounds to go along with her 10 points. Sophomore guard Kim Sheehy also finished with 10 points, draining two 3-pointers and adding two steals.

Sacramento State shot 38 percent from the floor, but was outrebounded by the Highlanders 44-36. The Hornets also made 25 trips to the free throw line, converting 15, compared to UC Riverside, who went to the stripe 11 times.

The Highlanders were led by forward Kenie Nkele, who scored a game-high 22 points, while pulling down 12 rebounds. UC Riverside guard Holly Peterson went 4-of-7 from behind the three point line and finished with 12 points. The Highlanders committed 22 fouls with Nkele and guard Kristin Peters fouling out.

Sacramento State will look for its second consecutive win at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27 against UC Davis at the Hornets Nest.