WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CRUISES TO 14-POINT WIN, 80-66, OVER SIU-EDWARDSVILLE

11/23/2011

Megan Kritscher had a game-high four blocks and the Hornets tallied eight total rejections.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kylie Kuhns tallied her fourth double-double of the season and the Sacramento State women's basketball team won for the second straight time in a 80-66 victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Wednesday night at The Nest.

The Hornets (2-3) won back-to-back games for the first time since defeating San Francisco on Dec. 1, 2010 and Santa Clara on Dec. 5, 2010. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (3-1) lost for the first time this season as the Cougars shot just 35.1 percent from the field.

Kuhns was well on her way to her third consecutive double-double and fourth in five games at halftime when the junior had eight points and seven boards. She finished with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds and was the benefit of the Hornets' quick transition game as she scored 10 of her points on five fast break lay-ups.

Also in double figures for the Hornets was Emily Christensen with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and Alle Moreno, who went 5-of-8 from the floor. Redshirt sophomore center Megan Kritscher had a game-high four blocks in just seven minutes on the floor as Sacramento State tallied a season-high eight total blocks. Freshman point guard Fantasia Hilliard had a season-high seven assists.

Overall, Sacramento State's 49.2 percent shooting on field goals was the team's highest of the season since shooting 37.1 percent in a loss at California. The Hornets' 50 percent shooting from downtown was also by far their best performance of the season. The squad had not shot better than 27.3 percent from long range in any of the first four games.

SIUE was paced by center Raven Berry's 17 points and 12 rebounds while Katie Hempen scored 13 points in reserve. Entering the game, forward Michaela Herrod was averaging a team-high 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds but the Hornets limited her to just 10 points and four boards on Wednesday.

Sacramento State shot 49.2 percent overall on 32-of-65 shooting, including 12-of-24 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 46 rebounds, committed 31 turnovers and had 21 assists. They went 4-of-7 at the free throw line.

SIUE shot 35.1 percent from the field on 26-of-74 shooting, with 2-of-13 coming from beyond the arc. The Cougars grabbed 54 rebounds, were pressured into 24 turnovers and had 13 assists. They went 12-of-16 at the free throw line.

Up next for the Hornets is another team from the Land of Lincoln. Sacramento State hosts Eastern Illinois at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday. The undefeated Panthers defeated San Jose State, 93-71, on Wednesday night with five players in double figures scoring.