WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STUMBLES AT MONTANA STATE IN BIG SKY CONFERENCE OPENER

1/6/2011

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Sacramento State women’s basketball team dropped its Big Sky Conference opener, 106-55, at Montana State on Thursday night at Worthington Arena.

The Hornets fall to 3-11 (0-1 Big Sky) this season with the loss while the Bobcats improve to 7-8 (1-0) after the victory.

With the score locked up 13-13 after just more than five minutes into the first half, Montana State went on a 21-4 run over the next 7:43 to take a commanding 34-17 lead.

The Bobcats led 53-26 at halftime and maintained their advantage in the second half, leading by as much as 51 before handing Sacramento State their first conference loss of the season.

Kylie Kuhns paced the Hornets with 12 points but the No. 3 ranked rebounder in the NCAA, who entered the game averaging 12.5 boards per game, grabbed just four rebounds against Montana State.

Natasha Torgerson picked up the slack with a nine rebounds to go with four points.

Freshman forward Shanti Smith chipped in 10 points, her sixth game with 10 or more points this season and fourth time in the last six games.

Katie Busey’s 25 points led the Bobcats as three other players also scored in double digits. Rachel Semansky had a double-double for MSU, with 17 points and a team-high 13 boards.

Sacramento State shot 29.2 percent from the floor on 21-of-72 shooting, including 6-of-34 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 36 rebounds, committed 23 turnovers and had 10 assists on their 21 made baskets. They went 7-of-10 at the free throw line.

Montana State shot 47.7 percent overall on 41-of-86 shooting, with 10-of-26 coming from beyond the arc. The Bobcats grabbed 66 rebounds, were pressured into 17 turnovers and had 27 assists on 41 made hoops. They went 14-of-22 at the free throw line.

The Hornets will stay in the Treasure State, with a game against Montana at 1:05 p.m. PT.