Heart is not something you can measure. It’s not something that you will find on the scoreboard or in the box scores. It won’t win you any awards, trophies, or, in the case of Sacramento State’s women’s basketball team, it won’t earn you any wins either.

It will, however, earn the respect of this columnist.

All eight Hornets who walked off the court Saturday night (Sydney Gatson, Lori Kerswell, Danielle Iceman, Ciara Jenkins, Kristine Knowlton, Tamica Estrella, Crystal Conley and Samantha Miller) following their 37th consecutive loss, exemplified what a true competitor is all about.

Throughout the past season, those eight Hornets endured a total of 27 losses, two players leave the program, countless injuries, and one head coach who would never let them quit.

Coming into the season, the Hornets were never expected to compete.

They returned no players from their 2000-2001 team,and they were set even further back coming into the season due to the losses of several key players.

Guard Dolores Olivarez suffered a pre-season, season-ending injury to her ACL. Forward Tola Tallman, who was set to be the teams only returning player from the prior season, was forced to take a medical redshirt.

And high school recruit Reshundra Smiley, who averaged over 19 points per game in high school, failed to qualify academically.

As the season rolled along, things only got worse for the Hornets.

Freshman Ebonie Kerley quit the team after a 42-point loss to Seton Hall, and after suffering their second 72-point loss of the year, this time to Northern Arizona, junior guard Kendra Yancey left the team.

With a team decimated down to nine players (eight after forward Alyson Thurman suffered an injury against Idaho State — seven when Ciara Jenkins severely sprained her ankle against Weber State), the Hornets failed to make any serious threats of breaking the losing streak, finishing 0-27.

It takes a lot of heart to fight through 27 losses and come out standing, but that’s exactly what the eight Hornets who walked off the court on Saturday did.

As other players jumped ship, and suffered through injuries, those eight Hornets stuck it out. They withstood the dismal crowds, the newspaper headlines, the criticism, and the 27 agonizing losses.

You could see the disappointment in their eyes every time they headed back to the locker room after another horrific loss. But they bounced back every game with the same intensity that they had on opening day, only to have their losing streak stretch one game further.

The 2001-2002 Hornets threw away turnovers and they threw up missed shots, but never did any one of those eight players throw in the towel.