The Hornets improve to 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the Big Sky, tied with Idaho State for fifth place in the standings. For Sacramento State it is the first time in program history, the team has swept a pair of games on the road (defeating Eastern Washington 72-68 on Thursday) and the squad’s 3-4 conference record after the first round of Big Sky games is a program best.

“We never talk about any of the records before they happen,” second-year head coach Dan Muscatell said. “But, after the fact we always talk about them. The players enjoy hearing about it. We go out every game and just work on playing hard, but there is definite enjoyment in breaking the records along the way.”

Sacramento State was led by sophomore Kim Sheehy and senior Tyeisha Brown, who each scored 11 points apiece. For the second-straight game Sheehy sank three three-pointers and the Santa Fe, N.M., native has now scored at least one three-pointer in 13-straight games. Brown, a Vallejo, Calif., native had a game-high tying five steals and she has now led the team in scoring nine times this season.

Sacramento State started its fourth lineup of the season, with Sheehy, Brown, and sophomore guard Stephanie Cherry getting the start along with senior center Kristine Knowlton and junior forward Ashley Cadotte. Cherry knocked down one-three pointer for her only points of the game, but the bucket extended her three-point streak to nine games. The Fairfield HS graduate, also had a career-high five steals, a career-high tying five rebounds and three assists. Knowlton, a Cornelius, Ore, native, was playing her final game in Portland. She also finished with a season-high three assists.

“Our three starting guards have given us a good combination of energy and they seem to compliment one another well,” Muscatell said. “As a senior, Tyeisha does a nice job of helping to teach Stephanie. Kim benefits from Tyeisha’s and Stephanie’s play because they force defenses to pay attention to them. It is also a nice luxury to bring Cindy Alldrin off the bench as our sixth player.”

Alldrin, a transfer from Clackamas CC, scored nine points in the game on 4-of-8 shooting as well as dishing out a team-high tying three assists and snatching three steals. Alldrin’s teammate at Clackamas CC, Cadotte, added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Hornets.

Sacramento State outrebounded Portland State (2-17, 0-7) 35-26, including grabbing 19 offensive rebounds (13 in the second half.) Junior forward Katelyn Ciampi led the Hornets with five offensive boards.

Portland State jumped out to a 9-2 lead, scoring on its first four possessions. The Hornets then went on a 14-6 run that gave them their first lead of the game after a Kim Sheehy three-pointer put Sacramento State ahead 16-15 with 12:05 left in the half. The Hornets built their lead up to as many as six points, but the Vikings finished the half with a 12-2 run to take a 33-29 lead at the break, led by Heidi Staurt’s eight first-half points. She was held scoreless in the second half.

“Portland State presents difficult match-ups,” Muscatell said. “We talked at halftime about how we were playing the game on their terms. We were getting caught up in letting them determine and dictate how the game was being played. But I give our players credit, they persevered through it.”

The second half broke open with a 12-5 run by the Hornets, that included two three-pointers from Sheehy. Sacramento State extended its lead to 52-44 with 4:03 left in the game, before Portland State began to make things close once again. Led by Delaney Conway’s game-high 14 points and 12 from Heather Arns, the Vikings came within one, 52-51, with 1:05 in the game before a combined five free-throws from Cadotte and Brown sealed the victory. Cadotte went 4-of-4 from the line for the game.

Sacramento State will now have the luxury of playing five of its final seven Big Sky games at the Hornets Nest. Next up for Sacramento State is Weber State at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday at the Nest.

“I think our team is going into the second leg of conference with a lot of confidence, especially since we will have the luxury of being at home for the most part,” Muscatell said. “Our players feel very good about having five of our final seven at home.”

Hornet Notes:

Sacramento State’s seven wins are the most since the 1995-96 season...the Hornets three Big Sky wins are the most since the 1999-00 season...the team’s seven wins over Division I teams are the most since the 1995-96 season...the Hornets three road wins are the most since the 1993-94 season.