FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — Sacramento State used a dominant second quarter to secure a 78-59 women’s basketball victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday night at Walkup Skydome. The Hornets, who led by just one point after the first quarter, outscored the Lumberjacks 24-10 in the second period to take a commanding 35-22 halftime lead. Sacramento State maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. Rubi Gray led all scorers with 26 points for Sacramento State. Benthe Versteeg added 18 points and Natalie Picton scored 14. For Northern Arizona, Naomi White scored 17 points and Madison Watts added 15. Sacramento State improved to 9-8 overall. Northern Arizona fell to 6-12.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Sacramento State women’s basketball team authored a definitive road victory Thursday night, dismantling Northern Arizona 78-59 at Walkup Skydome in a Big Sky Conference matchup that defied pregame projections. Fueled by a dominant second-quarter surge and a game-high 26 points from guard Rubi Gray, the Hornets improved to 9-8 overall. The Lumberjacks, who entered as heavy statistical favorites, fell to 6-12. The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the second period, where Sacramento State transformed a narrow 11-12 first-quarter deficit into a commanding 35-22 halftime lead. The Hornets erupted for 24 points in the frame while holding Northern Arizona to just 10, a stretch that effectively decided the game’s outcome. The run was characterized by efficient offense and stifling defense, setting a tone the Lumberjacks could never counter. Gray, a 5-foot-10 guard from Devonport, Australia, was the offensive catalyst, shooting 10 of 22 from the field and connecting on 4 of 10 from three-point range. She added six rebounds in 37 minutes. She was complemented by guard Benthe Versteeg of Amsterdam, Netherlands, who scored 18 points and dished out four assists, and Canadian guard Natalie Picton, who added 14 points and three assists. While Northern Arizona’s backcourt of Naomi White and Madison Watts scored 17 and 15 points respectively, the team struggled mightily with its offensive execution. The Lumberjacks shot only 34.5% from the field and a paltry 27.3% from beyond the arc. Their 15 assists were overshadowed by 14 turnovers and a glaring disadvantage on the offensive glass, where Sacramento State held a 12-3 rebounding edge. That rebounding dominance was a key component of the Hornets’ victory, leading to 13 second-chance points and mitigating their own turnover issues, as they committed 21. Sacramento State also found its shooting stroke, hitting 49.2% from the field and 44% from three-point range. The Hornets’ offensive rating of 103.8 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with Northern Arizona’s inefficient 76.1. The Lumberjacks showed brief signs of life after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 7-2 spurt to cut the deficit to eight points. However, Sacramento State quickly responded. A three-pointer from Gray at the 8:25 mark of the third quarter pushed the lead back to 13, and the Hornets maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the night. Northern Arizona never got closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter. Sacramento State’s defense was particularly disruptive, recording six steals and three blocks. Forward Elizabeth Abiara contributed two of those blocks, while Picton had three steals. Northern Arizona, despite its scoring struggles, was active defensively, tallying 15 steals led by Audrey Taylor’s four. The game, played before an announced crowd of 342, saw Sacramento State methodically extend its lead in each of the final two quarters, outscoring Northern Arizona 23-18 in the third and 20-19 in the fourth to seal the 19-point victory. The win gives Sacramento State momentum as it continues a challenging conference road stretch, next facing Northern Colorado on Saturday. Northern Arizona looks to regroup at home against Portland State, also on Saturday. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Sacramento on Feb. 14.

Preview: Sacramento State at Northern Arizona Women’s Basketball FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Sacramento State Hornets and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, two Big Sky Conference teams seeking consistency, will meet Thursday at Walkup Skydome. Sacramento State (8-8, 2-1 Big Sky) enters with momentum from a 68-64 home victory over Portland State on Saturday. The Hornets have alternated wins and losses over their last five games. Guard Natalie Picton, the team’s focal point, scored 21 points in 38 minutes in the win. She is averaging 10.4 points per game this season but has been a high-minute workhorse, logging 38 or more minutes in three of the last five contests. Rubi Gray (18 points) and Jaety Mandaquit (10 points) provided key support against Portland State. Northern Arizona (6-11, 2-2) looks to rebound from a 59-46 road loss at Idaho State. The Lumberjacks’ season has been marked by streaks, including a three-game winning streak in non-conference play in December followed by a four-game skid. They split their most recent homestand, beating Montana 81-72 before falling to Montana State 82-65. Guard JBionna Robinson has seen fluctuating minutes off the bench, scoring seven points in 10 minutes at Idaho State after a nine-point effort at Cal State Northridge last month. The matchup features contrasting recent trajectories. The Hornets have found a modest rhythm in conference play, while the Lumberjacks have struggled for offensive output, failing to reach 50 points in two of their last three outings. Sacramento State’s defense, which held Weber State to 39 points on Jan. 3, will test a Northern Arizona team averaging 64.2 points per game. This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the programs this season. They will play again in Sacramento on Feb. 14. Following this game, Sacramento State travels to face Northern Colorado on Saturday. Northern Arizona remains at home to host Portland State on Saturday.