After a historically successful season under first-year head coach Mark Campbell, the Sacramento State women’s basketball team was voted best team under the best women’s team category for the sixth annual Best of Sac State polls.

RELATED: THE GRIND: Mark Campbell’s ascent to women’s basketball head coach at Sac State 

Former Hornet graduate guard and Big Sky MVP Lianna Tillman, who was herself voted best female athlete, said she is very grateful to the Sac State community for embracing her in her first and only season with the Hornets.

“All the hard work we put in this season to try to turn this program around…it’s cool to see that other people see it as well,” Tillman said. “Honestly I was scared to move schools, but I thought it went well, and  just to have that recognition from the community is amazing.”

Her senior teammate, former guard Jazmin Carrasco, said it felt great to be recognized for her success. For Carrasco especially, who was a part of a team that won just three games the previous season, she said it was very rewarding to accomplish new heights with this program before she graduated.

“It feels really good knowing that we kind of left our mark or we’re starting off this new era of Sac State women’s basketball off to a good start compared to where it was,” Carrasco said. “That’s one of the biggest reasons why I play basketball is just to try and impact the  other future girls that are gonna be playing.”

Despite the program seeing departures from two integral parts in Tillman and Carrasco, there is still a spark of brightness awaiting in the Hornets’ future – and it most certainly includes their all-Big Sky center, Isnelle Natabou. 

Natabou said she is pumped for whatever is next for the Hornet women’s basketball program and acknowledges the impact the exiting seniors had on her and the entire group.

“I cannot wait,” Natabou said about next season. “It hurts [seeing the seniors leave] because we grew so much, but I don’t wanna let them down, they started something amazing, and I will carry it with Katie (Peneueta) and all of those who are gonna stay here with me.”

Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

Show Notes:

THE GRIND: Mark Campbell’s ascent to women’s basketball head coach at Sac State 

Sac State women’s basketball guard bets on herself and it pays off