With the final home games in the rear-view mirror, Sacramento State faced one more obstacle before the Big Sky tournament: Idaho State.
Flying over to Pocatello, Idaho on Sunday, the Hornets punched up, tackling the No. 4-seeded Bengals.
Ranked No. 5 in the conference, the Hornets opened their Big Sky campaign against the Bengals, losing 61-46 at home. In the final game, the Hornets clawed back to get revenge in a 85-71 victory to round out the regular season.
The Hornets’ scoring broke out early with senior forward Fatoumata Jaiteh hitting back-to-back threes to open the first quarter. Prior to the game, she was shooting just 26% from beyond the arc.
“Getting off to a good start is the key to our success,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said.
The Bengals, ranked No. 2 in the Big Sky, couldn’t contain the Hornets who reached 60 points by the third quarter.
The Hornets rained down threes on the Bengals, led by sophomore guard Rubi Gray. She shot 83% from beyond the arc in the game, finishing with five threes and 24 points.
All three of the Hornets’ starting guards reached double digits, with redshirt senior Benthe Versteeg and junior Natalie Picton scoring 18 points each.
“It feels good just to be able to shoot like that,” Kallhoff said. “We answered by hitting timely shots.”
With the Hornets clinching the No. 5 seed in the Big Sky tournament, the win was the icing on the cake, a dessert that Kallhoff has already put in the rear-view window.
“We gave up 12 offensive rebounds,” Kallhoff said. “Playing better transition defense and without fouling is important too.”
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After recalling the holes in the Hornets’ armor, Kallhoff’s focus shifted to the game’s Iron Hornet award.
Given to the player who displays toughness and grit on both sides of the court, Kallhoff met his team in the locker room to give away the belt.
Going 8-8 at the line, junior forward Keanna Salave’a was the regular season’s final recipient, recording 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
“[Salave’a] had a really good game,” Kallhoff said. “She played really well in the second half. We got some really positive possessions out of her too.”
The stats speaks for itself.
Ocho’s our Iron Hornet of the Game! 🐝
Keanna Salave’a: 10pts 8-8FT, 6rebs, 2asts, 2stls#StingersUp pic.twitter.com/LIhQOfadR8
— Sac State WBB (@SacStateWBB) March 3, 2026
With their place in the Starch Madness clinched, the Hornets head to Boise, Idaho this upcoming weekend, where the Bengals wait patiently for revenge in their fourth matchup of the season.
I’ll be covering @SacStateWBB at the tournament all weekend! @BigSkyConf tournament tips off @ 12 PM MST (11 AM PST)
#5 Sac State plays first on Monday @ 12 PM MST (11 AM PST) pic.twitter.com/WYj8gLrOCs
— Andrew Brown (@andrewantbrown) March 4, 2026
Kallhoff said he’s already begun a game plan for the rematch.
“We need to clean up our defense, take care of turnovers and our off-ball — hand-on-ball — defense,” Kallhoff said. “Playing them, they’re so physical, and they over help. We’re gonna get open threes, and we have to be ready to knock them down.”
With a quick turnaround flight taking the Hornets back to Sac at 5 a.m., Kallhoff remains laser focused on Starch Madness.
The Hornets take the week to make adjustments, heading to Boise, Idaho, for their first game on Monday, March 9 at 11 a.m.
“We just got work to do,” Kallhoff said. “We got to get rested up and get them locked in.”
