|
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RALLIES FOR THRILLING, 87-84, VICTORY OVER CSU BAKERSFIELD
12/20/2011
Fantasia Hilliard scored five points in the final five minutes to key a Sacramento State win.
The Hornets (5-7) were down nine points with 5:12 left to play in the game but the Roadrunners (3-11) - playing with just seven healthy players - did not score again as Sacramento State stormed back to claim its fifth win in six home games this season.
Se'nyce Parrish started the rally on a layup with 4:10 left in the game and Hilliard added a 3-pointer to cut the lead to four with 3:42 remaining. More than two minutes passed without a basket but Emily Christensen broke the drought with a 3-pointer at 1:41 to make it a one-point game. Hilliard hit her clutch jumper with 48 seconds left and with seven seconds left, Alle Moreno snatched the ball away from CSU Bakersfield point guard Amber Williams. She was immediately fouled and made both of her free throws to give the Hornets a three-point lead. The Roadrunners had a decent look from the right wing to tie the game but the ball sailed wide and the Hornets prevailed.
Sacramento State, which was down eight points at halftime, shot 51.4 percent in the second half after shooting 38.1 percent in the first half.
Christensen had a team-high 20 points and 12 rebounds while Kylie Kuhns continued her amazing double-double run with 16 points and 12 boards. Kuhns, who leads the NCAA in double-doubles and is No. 3 in rebounds, has now tallied at least 10 points and 10 boards in 10 straight games and has 11 double-doubles in 12 contests this season.
Hilliard finished with 14 points and a career-high nine assists. Parrish chipped in a career-high 13 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and Mallorie Franco added 11 points.
CSU Bakersfield had five players out of the game as they have been ravaged by injuries this season. But with seven healthy players - including Tika Smith, a volleyball player who joined the hoops team two games ago - the Roadrunners led for the majority of the game and by as much as 14 in the second half.
Kristine Herman had a game-high 23 points while Williams added 21. Lauren Carter, who missed some minutes in the second half after an ankle injury, finished with 13 points and Brooklynn Hinkens was also in double figures with 10 points.
Sacramento State shot 44.2 percent overall on 34-of-77 shooting, including 12-of-30 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 42 rebounds, committed 21 turnovers and had 29 assists. They went 7-of-10 at the free throw line.
CSU Bakersfield shot 43 percent from the field on 34-of-79 shooting, with 10-of-24 coming from beyond the arc. The Roadrunners grabbed 49 rebounds, were pressured into 22 turnovers and had 20 assists. They went 6-of-7 at the free throw line.
The Hornets close out their non-conference schedule by hosting Santa Clara at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday.
|
