It’s fitting that the holiday season has just gotten underway. The Sacramento State women’s basketball team was in a giving mood this past weekend.

Unfortunately, it was a combined 63 turnovers that the Hornets (0-5) gave away in losses to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Seton Hall University at the Lady Rebel Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev.UNLV took the tournament title for the second consecutive year in an 88-67 win over Tennessee Tech University.

In the opening round, the Hornets were lit up for 29 points by Lady Rebel guard Constance Jinks, en route to a 92-34 loss at the hands of UNLV. The Rebels forced the Hornets into 34 turnovers, and shot 51 percent from the field.

The Hornets were led in scoring by guard Kendra Yancey, who scored 10 points. Center Danielle Iceman also contributed six points and seven rebounds, despite getting into early foul trouble.

Sac State’s loss to UNLV set up a consolation game with Seton Hall, who had lost their opening round match to Tennessee Tech, 78-63. The Hornets didn’t fare any better against the Pirates who, behind 19 points from Cecilia Lindqvist, cruised to an 88-46 victory.

Sacramento sparked the Pirates’ fast break all night by committing 29 turnovers and shooting a meager 22 percent from the field. The turnovers and poor shooting led to the Pirates scoring 50 points in the paint and shooting 55 percent from the field.

One bright spot for the Hornets over the weekend was the play of Yancey. Yancey, who averaged just four points coming in to the tournament, scored 24 points in the two games over the weekend.

“(Yancey) is being a lot more aggressive on offense, but she has to be more selective with the shots she takes,” Hornet head coach Carolyn Jenkins said.

Due to injuries, Yancey, who is a natural shooting guard, has been forced to play a lot of point guard along with Sydney Gatson. The backcourt tandem has struggled with turning the ball over all season.

“A lot of the turnovers are result of offensive miscommunication,” Jenkins said.

Much of the miscommunication lies in the fact that Sac State did not return a single player from last year’s roster and has also suffered season-ending injuries to guard Dolores Olivarez and forward Tola Tallman.

Tallman was set to start at power forward for the Hornets and would have been the team’s only returning player.Olivarez was shooting for a starting position in the Hornet backcourt. If 10 new players and injuries weren’t enough, the Hornets have also been hammered by a brutal preseason schedule.

The Hornets have played only one home game, and their first five opponents have a combined record of 15-4.

“It will take time for us to learn to play against top flight competition,” says Jenkins.

If one thing is on the Hornets’ side, it is time. The Hornets have only one senior, Gatson, five juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen on what is one of the youngest teams in the Big Sky Conference.

The Hornets also have a month and a half to grow accustomed to playing with their nine new teammates before they hit their Big Sky schedule.The Hornets will next face off against San Jose State University at home Friday. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.