When the Sacramento State women’s basketball team went into the half down 30-28 to the Bulldogs of Gonzaga, head coach Dan Muscatell wasn’t worried.

“We knew (Gonzaga) was travel weary, so as the game progressed we knew we may be able to take it to them,” Muscatell said.

As it turns out, Muscatell is very perceptive. After falling behind 34-31 early in the second half, the Hornets went on a 20-0 run that put them ahead 51-34 before Gonzaga scored again. Sac State went unchallenged the rest of the way, winning 73-54.

One of the main reasons for the turnaround was shooting guard Kim Sheehy, who came out slowly to begin the game, scoring just six points on two-of-six shooting in the first half.

“(Sheehy) started the game out very slow to begin with,” Muscatell. “Then she came out and hit some shots and was able to get to the line.”

Sheehy exploded for 16 points in the second half on three of five shooting and made seven of eight from the free-throw line. She also hit three rainbow 3-pointers in the second half, one of which coming from NBA range, finishing the game with 22 points, a new career high.

“I relaxed a bit in the second half,” Sheehy said. “I just tried to settle down.” When asked what she thinks of setting a new career high, Sheehy shrugged and said, “It feels good, I guess, but the win is the important thing.” Sheehy’s final line was 22 points, hitting four-of-seven from downtown and eight-of-nine from the free-throw line with three steals peppered in.

Hornets forward Ashley Cadotte was also huge in the game, grabbing seven second half rebounds, including four offensively to help put the Hornets on top. Cadotte finished the game with eight points, nine rebounds and four steals in the game.

“(Cadotte) believes that every rebound is hers,” Muscatell said.

Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference last season with an unblemished 14-0 record ?” the first time that had been done in the conference’s history. Additionally, the Bulldogs beat the Hornets 71-56 last season in Spokane, Wash.

The Hornets are now undefeated at home after beating previously-undefeated Southern Utah in overtime on Nov. 26 on the strength of Sheehy’s last-second jumper.

Sac State remains at the Nest at 2:05 p.m. Saturday to face Causeway rival UC Davis.