It’s nearing the end of the season and the Sacramento State women’s basketball team (2-20 overall, 0-9 in Big Sky Conference) is hurting. With an active roster down to nine players, the Hornets are limping toward the finish line.

The Hornets will play a two-game homestand against Weber State (16-6, 8-1 Big Sky Conference) on Thursday and Idaho State (5-16, 1-8) on Saturday. Both games are set to tip off at 7:05 p.m.

Injuries have plagued the once healthy Hornet basketball squad, running most rampant in the frontcourt. The mid-season loss of Nichole Hardaway, along with the injury of Katelyn Ciampi, has severely hurt the Hornet team’s ability to battle in the interior, and has consequently hampered their long-range game as well.

The Hornets will find it difficult to draw double teams down low and open up perimeter shots. If Sac State plans on winning any Big Sky games this season, they must find a post presence capable of drawing double teams — and they must find it fast.

Weber State is tied for first place in the Big Sky Conference with Montana State. They lead the conference with 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and their post presence is dominating.

If the Hornets can keep a loss to Weber State within 20 points, the contest should be considered a success.

On Saturday, the Hornets will take on Idaho State whose only Big Sky win came last month when they defeated the Hornets 77-62. The loss was one of the slimmer margins of defeat that the Sac State team has endured this season. The Bengals are currently on a six-game losing streak, while Sac State is on a 10-game losing streak.

Although at a disadvantage, Sac State has a good chance of winning — provided they can get big games from forwards Kristine Knowlton and Danielle Iceman.

Keys to the Games

1) Rebounding: In the last game against Idaho State, Sacramento was out-rebounded 46-35. This season, the Hornets have been outrebounded in all but two games — both games were Hornet victories. If the Hornets can muster a decent defensive effort on the interior, a win might be possible.

2) Limit turnovers: While Sac State’s last game against Idaho didn’t result in huge turnover rates for the Hornets, virtually every loss this season has been marked with a pronounced number of unforced turnovers.

3) Win the 3-point battle: Nothing can put a team away quicker than a barrage of 3-pointers. So if Sac State wants to emerge victorious this weekend, 3-point specialist Diane Peterson will have to pick up her game.