Sacramento State women’s basketball lost, 81-79, in overtime in today’s Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal against the University of Northern Colorado.

The loss eliminated the Hornets from the tournament, ending the squad’s 2014-15 season.

The intense match was not one of Sac State’s best performances offensively as the Hornets had a low field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage throughout the contest. Overall, Sac State scored 30 of 69 attempted field goals, putting them at 43.5 percent. The women, who typically do well with 3-pointers, had a 30.6 3-point field goal percentage in the game.

“We were not as aggressive on offensive,” said Sac State coach Bunky Harkleroad during a postgame press conference. “I was hoping we were going to take it to them a little more early in the game and that slow start hurt us but we battled.”

Turnovers were frequent during the game with 16 for the Hornets and 18 committed by the Bears.

The game was an incredibly intense match, with both teams putting in a strong fight. The game contained 12 ties in total and seven lead changes.

“[It was] a very good basketball team that beat us today; you have to give them credit,” Harkleroad said in the press conference. “First we just want to congratulate them. [I am] really proud of our Hornets for fighting and showing a lot of heart and a lot of toughness today.”

Sac State was up in the second half 72-70 with only 23 seconds on the clock before UNC’s D’shara Strange shot the game-changing 2-pointer with only five seconds left, sending the Hornets and the Bears into overtime.

In overtime, Sac State held the lead just once. The Hornets and Bears tied three times during overtime. UNC maintained the lead for the last 1:37 of the game.

Fantasia Hilliard was asked during the press conference about the last play of the game, in which the Hornets turned over the ball.

“It’s not about how the game ended. It’s about the entire game,” Hilliard responded.

In the first half of the game the Hornets had a low shooting percentage of 35.5 percent and a lower than normal 3-point field goal percentage of 27.8 percent.

Hilliard led in points in the first half, scoring nine of the 31 points put up by Sac State.

During the first half the Hornets took the lead just one time when sophomore forward Kyhonta Doughty scored the opening points of the game with a 2-point jumper.

UNC quickly took the lead over the Hornets and maintained that lead for nine minutes. The Bears at one point took a 10-point lead, dominating the Hornets 20-10 at the 9:05 mark in the first half. This was the largest lead for UNC overall.

The game came to a tie with 4:14 left in the first half when Gretchen Harrigan scored a 3-pointer for Sac State, putting the score at 28-28.

The Bears, who had a field goal percentage of 45.2 and played strong defense in the first half, ultimately outscored the Hornets going into halftime with a three-point advantage. The Hornets had 31 points at halftime and the Bears had 34.

“Northern Colorado does a very good job defensively,” Harkleroad said in the press conference. “We didn’t do a very bad job defending them, we were ok there, but they do a good job defending us. They set the tone early.”

In the second half the Hornets came back stronger offensively. The squad had an improved field goal percentage of 56.7 percent, making 16 of 30 shots. Sac State also had a better 3-point field goal percentage of 46.2.

Just under two minutes into the second half, the Hornets tied the game 34-34. While the Hornets were able to obtain a six-point lead in the second half, their largest lead of the game, UNC kept the Hornets on their toes.

The game was tied eight times in what could have been the game’s final period. Instead, the Bears forced overtime and held on after a missed 3-pointer by Sac State’s Hallie Gennett with four seconds left in the game.

The leading scorers for Sac State were Adella Randle-El with 24 points, Hilliard with 15 and Doughty with 10.

Randle-El spoke about her success during the press conference.

“The were really looking to shut down Tay (Fantasia) and our main shooters,” Randle-El said. “So that really opened up more for me.”

Despite the loss against UNC, Sac State had a great 2014-15 season, making it all the way to the semifinal round for just the third time in program history. The women put up a strong battle against the Bears.

For the Hornets, the season has ended. The Bears will move on to the championship round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament to compete for the title on Saturday, March 14.

Sacramento State women’s basketball lost, 81-79, in overtime in today’s Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal against the University of Northern Colorado.

The loss eliminated the Hornets from the tournament, ending the squad’s 2014-15 season.

The intense match was not one of Sac State’s best performances offensively as the Hornets had a low field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage throughout the contest. Overall, Sac State scored 30 of 69 attempted field goals, putting them at 43.5 percent. The women, who typically do well with 3-pointers, had a 30.6 3-point field goal percentage in the game.

Turnovers were frequent during the game with 16 for the Hornets and 18 committed by the Bears.

The game was an incredibly intense match, with both teams putting in a strong fight. The game contained 12 ties in total and seven lead changes.

Sac State was up in the second half 72-70 with only 23 seconds on the clock before UNC’s D’shara Strange shot the game-changing 2-pointer with only five seconds left, sending the Hornets and the Bears into overtime.

In overtime, Sac State held the lead just once. The Hornets and Bears tied three times during overtime. UNC maintained the lead for the last 1:37 of the game.

In the first half of the game the Hornets had a low shooting percentage of 35.5 percent and a lower than normal 3-point field goal percentage of 27.8 percent.

Fantasia Hilliard led in points in the first half, scoring nine of the 31 points put up by Sac State.

During the first half the Hornets took the lead just one time when sophomore forward Kyhonta Doughty scored the opening points of the game with a 2-point jumper.

UNC quickly took the lead over the Hornets and maintained that lead for nine minutes. The Bears at one point took a 10-point lead, dominating the Hornets 20-10 at the 9:05 mark in the first half. This was the largest lead for UNC overall.

The game came to a tie with 4:14 left in the first half when Gretchen Harrigan scored a 3-pointer for Sac State, putting the score at 28-28.

The Bears, who had a field goal percentage of 45.2 and played strong defense in the first half, ultimately outscored the Hornets going into halftime with a three-point advantage. The Hornets had 31 points at halftime and the Bears had 34.

In the second half the Hornets came back stronger offensively. The squad had an improved field goal percentage of 56.7 percent, making 16 of 30 shots. Sac State also had a better 3-point field goal percentage of 46.2.

Just under two minutes into the second half, the Hornets tied the game 34-34. While the Hornets were able to obtain a six-point lead in the second half, their largest lead of the game, UNC kept the Hornets on their toes.

The game was tied eight times in what could have been the game’s final period. Instead, the Bears forced overtime and held on after a missed 3-pointer by Sac State’s Hallie Gennett with four seconds left in the game.

The leading scorers for Sac State were Adella Randle-El with 24 points, Hilliard with 15 and Doughty with 10.

Despite the loss against UNC, Sac State had a great 2014-15 season, making it all the way to the semifinal round for just the third time in program history. The women put up a strong battle against the Bears.

For the Hornets, the season has ended. The Bears will move on to the championship round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament to compete for the title on Saturday, March 14.