On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Sacramento State women’s basketball team’s backcourt trio combined for 52 points for a win that was almost a decade in the making.
Sophomore guard Rubi Gray led in scoring with 18 points, followed by 17 points apiece by redshirt senior guard Benthe Versteeg and junior guard Natalie Picton.
The Hornets haven’t won a game in Missoula since 2017, making the 64-57 win a historic one and redeeming statement for the season.
“I’m proud of the girls bouncing back from Thursday’s game and being able to take care of business in a place Sac State has only won twice in,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said.
Both teams donned new uniforms in honor of Native American heritage. The Griz wore uniforms drenched in turquoise with hints of their iconic maroon, while Sac State accented their statement white with arrowhead and basket markings, representing the Wilton Rancheria tribe.
Quick to move on from the 66-31 blowout in favor of Montana State, the Hornets broke out early, opening the game 4-0. Versteeg was aggressive early on, driving to the basket for the first two scores of the game.
The Hornets held the lead throughout most of the contest and held Grizzly senior guard Mack Konig, who was playing her first game back after being sidelined with a foot injury, to two points.
Meeting eye to eye, Versteeg locked Konig down. Konig averaged 17 points prior to her injury on Jan. 3 and came off the bench against the Hornets.
Versteeg, who accounted for 17 points, seven assists and three steals, was awarded the win’s Iron Hornet accolade.
“[Versteeg] got it because of her second half performance defensively,” Kallhoff said.
Versteeg wasn’t the only guard to record double-digit points, with Picton and Gray scoring 17 and 18, respectively.
“Anytime they score above 45 points as a group, we’re gonna have success,” Kallhoff said. “We’re 5-4 in conference. Every time we score above 60 points, we win.”
When scoring 60 or more, the Hornets are 10-1, with the one loss coming in overtime against UC Davis on Nov. 24, 2025.
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Along with Versteeg’s three steals, senior forward Fatoumata Jaiteh and Picton crashed the boards. Jaiteh led both teams with nine, and Picton added a career-high eight, with seven of Jaiteh’s coming on the defensive glass in 15 minutes.
With Montana’s elevation ranging within 12,000 feet, Kallhoff said he wanted to give a shoutout to his staff for the team being ready through strength and conditioning.
“Travel is hard, especially when we’re coming from sea level and all these teams are in elevation,” Kallhoff said.
Traveling to Ogden, Utah, to play Weber State, the Hornets will continue the high elevation contests, quickly turning around to play on Monday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m.
“We can’t go into Weber State and not be fully focused on taking care of business,” Kallhoff said. “It’s a great opportunity, but we also have to be locked in. To win two on the road in this conference would be huge.”
