Sacramento State’s women’s basketball team showed why a complete team effort can win conference games. 

In their 103-60 victory against Weber State at The Nest, every player on the Hornets’ roster scored at least two points and grabbed a rebound. 

The 43-point win is a new record for Sac State as its biggest margin of victory against a Division I opponent.

Staying with the relentless pressure they have been known for all season, the Hornets forced 30 turnovers that led to 36 points.

“When we get some easy turnovers off of our press, it becomes a lot easier for our offense to make some shots,” said Hornets’ head coach Jamie Craighead. “We talked about being a team and playing for each other and we came out and did that.”

With everyone contributing minutes, including sophomores Mariah Brown and Liz Mills, the bench finished with 45 points, but it was the starting five who gave Sac State the early lead. 

Sophomore guard Alle Moreno hit three shots behind the 3-point line in the first eight minutes, giving her team a 25-12 lead. A 10-0 run would then give the Hornets a 23-point lead.

Moreno finished with six 3-point baskets that led to 24 points, five assists and five rebounds. 

“I needed a game like that, because I didn’t get a lot of shots off on Thursday,” Moreno said. “I just shot the shots that were given to me.”

Weber State came into the game having not won all season and with a record of (0-17, 0-8).  Although the teams’ paths might be headed in different directions, Craighead said you cannot take any team for granted in the Big Sky Conference.

“They are a young team and they are going to be good in the future,” Craighead said. “They have some good, young players and the pressure isn’t easy at this level.”

All season, the Hornets’ up-tempo offense, run by the back court of Moreno and point guard Fantasia Hilliard, has been a staple for their success, but an inside presence has emerged just as successfully.

Seniors Kylie Kuhns, Natasha Torgerson and Megan Kritscher all finished with 10 or more points and a combined 17 rebounds. 

Kritscher not only supplies help on the offensive end, but is a defensive presence, as well. She is currently second in the nation with four blocks per game.

“I’m a little slower than everyone, so it’s something I can bring to my team,” Kritscher said. “Since we pressure a lot, if we get beat I’m there to help them out.”

Sac State is set to travel to the University of North Dakota on Thursday and Northern Colorado on Saturday. Craighead said hopefully she can win a pair before returning home on Jan 31. 

“We aren’t playing for one game,” Craighead said. It’s the big picture here. We are trying to get better and better in conference. 

Tipoff against North Dakota is at 5 p.m.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @rskuhn and for live game updates follow State Hornet Sports @sh_sports