SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Although both teams poured in 46 points in the second half, the Hornets took an explosive 61-point opening half to soar by the Thunderbirds.
Brenna Gates led the Thunderbirds in the loss with 18 points as Richardson added 10. Marquelle Funk tacked up seven assists as Desiree Jackson totaled four steals. Although Southern Utah shot 49.2% from the field as Sacramento Shot 44.9%, the Hornets outshot the Thunderbirds, 78-61. Sacramento shot 18-40 from beyond the arch in the win.
Sacramento State took a 13-1 run to open the game before a layup from Jessica Richardson and a free throw from Funk put the Thunderbirds in the game. The Hornets responded with a rally to extend their lead to 24 before Sydnee Taylor put in a layup to end SUU's six-minute scoring-drought. Donna Koerber finished a layup and a free throw before Funk knocked in a free throw to nudge the Thunderbirds into double-digits.
Funk knocked in a jumper before Sacramento State answered with an eight-point scoring spree. Jackson put in a layup followed by two free throws to give Southern Utah a taste of momentum. Funk drained a free throw and a layup before Jessica Richardson knocked in six-straight points to put the T-Birds at 25. Taylor Baird put in a layup to round out the first half trailing the Hornets, 27-61.
Richardson led the Thunderbirds in the first half with eight points as Funk added seven. Emma Weinreich totaled two assists in the half as Jackson and Koerber each snagged a steal. Southern Utah's bench put up 10 points in the opening half as the T-Birds shot 42.9% from the field and the Hornets shot 51.1%.
Koerber put in a layup for Southern Utah to put the second half's first points on the board before Sacramento responded with a four-point run. The Thunderbirds took a five-point rally to tack a 30-point game before Sacramento extended its lead to 33. Weinreich knocked in back-to-back layups before a layup from Sarah McGee and a Taylor jumper placed the Thunderbirds within 28.
The Hornets rallied before an eight point Thunderbird run, including a jumper from Madison Wright, a trey from Ashleigh Munns, a jumper and a free throw from Jackson and a layup from Richardson, put SUU at a 24-point deficit.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half before a Munns three-pointer cut Sacramento's lead to 21. Gates poured in Southern Utah's final nine points of the game, but it wasn't enough. Sacramento left the court with a comfortable 107-73 victory.
Southern Utah will round out Big Sky play by traveling to Oregon where they will take on Portland State on Sat., Mar. 5.
