Boise, Idaho (March 9, 2026)

With the Big Sky tournament under way, the Hornets repeated history on Monday.

Returning to Idaho less than a week from their final regular season matchup against Idaho State, the Bengals sat waiting to take revenge within the walls of Idaho Central Arena.

Both sides started slow, keeping the game in single digits until the Hornets made themselves known in the paint.

Junior guard Natalie Picton found junior forward Elizabeth Abiara under the rim, going up and coming down with a foul.

The call sparked celebrations from the Hornets, an early wake-up call the Bengals had no choice but to answer.

“They’re hitting on all cylinders at the right time,” Idaho State head coach Seton Sobolewski said. “I wish I had caught on to making some adjustments sooner and maybe given ourselves a better chance.”

The Bengals not only faced a deficit heading into the second quarter, but they had to relive the nightmare of senior forward Fatoumata Jaiteh beyond the arc.

Jaiteh’s high-arcing three point shot put the Hornets up by six, fueling the confidence of a well-oiled offensive machine that shot 40% from three.

Midway through the second, the Bengals sought out an offensive rebound, falling to the ground to secure it.

In hopes of doing the same, junior forward Keanna Salave’a attempted to pull the ball away aggressively, leading to Idaho State’s graduate student guard Tasia Jordan stepping in.

“In the moment, I saw my teammate down,” Jordan said. “I got a little nervous and wanted to make sure she was okay.”

Jordan’s teammates pulled her away, but the interaction left the officials labeling the exchange a flagrant foul, sending the Hornets’ sophomore guard Rubi Gray to the free throw line.

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In the second half, the Hornets continued to turn up.

On a missed jumper, the ball looked like it’d land out of bounds until redshirt senior guard Benthe Versteeg broke through Idaho State’s defenders like a spy through a pane of glass, snagging the ball and swinging it to Picton.

Picton briskly received the ball, releasing it for a three that left Sacramento State fans in an uproar.

“My only thought was catch and shoot,” Picton said. “I wouldn’t be able to get that three if [Versteeg] didn’t get that rebound.”

Picton was also named the match’s Iron Hornet, a belt granted to the player who displayed toughness on both sides of the court.

The madness is here ‼️

Natalie Picton put an elite performance against the Bengals. She earned today’s Iron Hornet of the Game! ⚔️

19 points, 1 reb, 3 assists, 1 steal🐝#StingersUp pic.twitter.com/L5AxO0Exh4

— Sac State WBB (@SacStateWBB) March 9, 2026

The Hornets never looked back, leaving the Bengals behind, holding double-digit leads for most of the game and closed out with the 62-53 victory.

“I think we’re coming together at the right time,” Versteeg said. “We love each other on and off the court.”

Looking ahead, the Hornets face first-seed Idaho with an upset in their crosshairs.

“They have a versatile group,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said. “We can match up with anybody in this league.”

The Hornets keys to advancing to the finals are clear, seamless transition defense, heavy presence on the glass and staying adaptive against the strongest offense in the league.

“The message all along is band together for Boise,” Kallhoff said.

Kallhoff left the room with a smile on his face, saying ‘Stingers up’ as he exited.