CHRISTENSEN REACHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS BUT WOMEN'S HOOPS LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO MSU

1/20/2012

Emily Christensen reach 1,000 career points with 19 against Montana State on Thursday night.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Senior Emily Christensen became just the ninth player in school history to reach 1,000 career points on Thursday night against Montana State but the Bobcats spoiled the evening with a late rally to defeat the Sacramento State women's basketball team, 76-71, in a Big Sky Conference game at The Nest.

Entering the contest, Christensen needed 18 points to reach 1,000 and scored a game-high 19 points against the Bobcats. She joined Kristy Ryan (2,064), Heidi Carroll (1,729), Sarah Stapp (1,438), Julie Watsell (1,322), Terri Lugert (1,306), Charday Hunt (1,237), Teresa Hampton (1,023) and Shelby Boudreaux (1,013) in the Sacramento State record books as 1,000 point scorers. Junior foward Kylie Kuhns is in line to join that distiguished group as well as she has 947 career points with 10 games remaining this season.

Despite Christensen's best efforts, however, the Hornets could not hold off a late Montana State rally on Thursday night.

After the ninth tie in the game, Mallorie Franco hit a jumper with 2:42 remaining on the clock to give the Hornets a 69-67 lead. Montana State's Ashley Albert responded with a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:29 left to play before Katie Bussey, who entered the game third in the conference averaging 17.5 points per game, nailed another 3-pointer from the top of the key with just 51 seconds left. The Bobcats led by four after the shot and sank some free throws in the final minute before winning, 76-71.

Montana State led by as much as 16 points in the first half before the Hornets closed the halftime gap to seven.

Christensen paced the Hornets in scoring while Mallorie Franco added 12 points. Kuhns collected her NCAA-best 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Freshman point guard Fantasia Hilliard added eight points and eight assists with four rebounds. Natasha Torgerson had a season-high seven boards.

Montana State was led by center Chelsea Banis' 14 points while three other starters also scored in double figures. Rachel Semansky had a double-double of her own with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Sacramento State shot 34.9 percent overall on 30-of-86 shooting, including 7-of-27 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 49 rebounds, committed 20 turnovers and had 22 assists. They went 4-of-10 at the free throw line.

Montana State shot 43.8 percent from the field on 28-of-64 shooting, with 4-of-18 coming from beyond the arc. The Bobcats grabbed 51 rebounds, were pressured into 27 turnovers and had 19 assists. They went 16-of-23 at the free throw line.

The Hornets are back in action at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday at The Nest against the Montana Lady Griz.