Sixteen former Sacramento State women’s basketball players reunited Thursday on the court for an alumnae game at The Nest. 

Players ranging from Hornets who played over a decade ago to just recent years came together for a friendly rivalry game on an all too familiar court. 

The white team, which consisted of Stephanie Cherry (2003-2007), Ashley Garcia (2006-2010), Emily Christensen (2007-2012), Charday Hunt (2007-2010), Jasmine Cannady (2007-2011) and Kelli Davis (2006-2009), found a 47-41 win over the green team.

The white team also featured two presently familiar faces: Ashley Cadotte (2004-2006) and Jourdan Willard (2006-2008) – two assistant coaches of the current Sac State women’s basketball team. 

“I mean, it was hard because I’m out of shape, but it was funny because I’ve coached almost all these players out here except for the few that I played with,” Willard said. “I think it was definitely needed, since we all don’t live here anymore and it was nice to get everyone back together.“

Before the alumnae hit the court, they watched the Sac State women’s basketball team defeat Southern Utah, 93-86. 

Willard and Cadotte said they knew the team was watching them play and hopefully will not give them a hard time at the next practice. 

“It was a little bit of (added) pressure,” Cadotte said. “I knew I was doing a couple things I tell them not to do every single day, but it was fun though.”

When asked if she would play with her team, Cadotte gave a friendly chuckle and said, “I don’t think they’re ready for all that yet.”

Christensen graduated last season and has played with a majority of the women on the current team.  

Although Christensen’s career may be over, her name is remembered for a few Hornet career statistic leadings: eighth in points with 1,150, sixth in field goals made standing at 449, fifth in 3-pointers with 152 and 10^th in rebounds totaling 529.

Christensen said being at The Nest brings back plenty of unforgettable memories and seeing her old teammates get a win put the icing on the cake.

“I miss (basketball) even more when I get in here,” Christensen said. “I don’t think about it until I get in the gym though. It really hits me when I step in here and I see them playing and the fact that I got to play after was really awesome. I felt like I was back in it.”

Christensen’s name is not the only one in the record books. Hunt is seventh in points with 1,237, 10^th in field goals made with a total of 385 and in ninth place in 3-pointers with 119. 

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz (2007-2011) on the green team leads in a few categories herself. She holds the second highest assists record of 381 and is eighth all time in 3-pointers with 131.

“I wish I was in a little better shape, but it still felt good to shoot,” Koshiyama-Diaz said. “It’s hard to work out when you work full time.”

The rest of the green team was made up of Ashley Storms (2004-2007), Lindsay Calmettes (2004-2006), Erika Edwards (2006-2010), Sami Field-Polisso (2007-2011), Sydney Gatson (1999-2004), Kelly Hughes (2005-2008), and Atty Boyer (2005-2009), who holds the eighth-highest rebound record of 546.

Koshiyama-Diaz shared the court with Edwards and Field-Polisso, who are tied for third with 168 3-pointers. 

Edwards is also fourth in rebounds in school history with 785 and Field-Polisso is still on the charts in ninth place with 242 assists. 

The Hornet alumnae roster will continue to get longer and the scattered ex-members of previous teams will be back next year for another cordial game.

Jillian can be reached on Twitter at @jillian1035 and follow State Hornet Sports at @sh_sports.