HILLIARD HITS BUZZER BEATER TO LEAD WOMEN'S HOOPS TO WIN AT MONTANA STATE

2/11/2012

Fantasia Hilliard's game-winning lay-up gave the Hornets a 77-76 win at Montana State.

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Freshman point guard Fantasia Hilliard hit a game-winning lay-up as time expired to cap a thrilling, 77-76, victory over Montana State on Saturday in a Big Sky Conference game at Worthington Arena.

It was Sacramento State's first win at Montana State since the 2005-06 season.

The Hornets (9-17, 4-9 Big Sky) and Bobcats (16-9, 8-5) battled back-and-forth down the stretch as neither team led by more than two points in the final three minutes of the game.

Sacramento State was up one with a minute left before Montana State's Kalli Durham hit a pair of free throws to flip the one point lead to the Bobcats. With 37 seconds left, Montana State's Ashley Albert blocked a shot to give the Bobcats possession once again, but with just five seconds remaining Ausha Cole committed a turnover to give the Hornets one last chance.

Hilliard took the inbounds pass and went left before reversing her dribble for a drive down the right side of the lane and the clock expired as her lay-up banked off the glass and in.

Kylie Kuhns had her NCAA-best 19th double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Alle Moreno added a game-high 21 points. Moreno eclipsed the 20-point barrier for the fourth time in the last six games. Hilliard finished with 15 points.

On the Bobcats' senior day, Montana State was paced by senior Katie Bussey's 20 points. Rachel Semansky had 19 points while Albert had 14.

Sacramento State shot 39.4 percent overall on 28-of-71 shooting, including 7-of-23 from 3-point range. The Hornets snagged 37 rebounds, committed just 10 turnovers and had 13 assists. They went 14-of-21 at the free throw line.

Montana State shot 41.1 percent from the field on 30-of-73 shooting, with 1-of-13 coming from beyond the arc. The Bobcats grabbed 54 rebounds, were pressured into 15 turnovers and had 15 assists. They went 15-of-21 at the free throw line.

Up next for the Hornets is a home game against Portland State on Feb. 18. Portland State is sixth in the Big Sky Conference standings while the Hornets are in seventh and one win back. The top six teams in the league advance to the Big Sky Conference Tournament (hosted by the No. 1 seed) and the Hornets and Vikings meet twice before the end of the season.