Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Sacramento State
Hornets Down 'Cats 68-57
1/22/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah -- A losing streak ended on Thursday night at the Dee Events Center, but it was not the one the Weber State women's basketball team was hoping for as Sacramento State defeated the Wildcats 68-57 to break a 17-game slide in the all-time series between the schools.
The Wildcats' current losing streak extended to eight games as WSU fell to 5-13 overall and 0-6 in the Big Sky. Meanwhile, the Hornets improved to 4-15 overall and 2-4 in league play. The win by Sac State was just the second all-time against the Wildcats as they improved to 23-2 overall in the series and it was just the first-ever win by the Hornets in Ogden in 13 tries.
"I was very disappointed in our lack of defensive fire tonight," said WSU head coach Carla Taylor. "We were soft on the ball and were playing like we were afraid to get beat. Great things happen when you are aggressive and Sacramento State was definitely the aggressors offensively and defensively."
Sacramento's Atty Boyer hit 11 of 19 shots from the floor to lead all scorers with 26 points and had nine rebounds. Charday Hunt added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets, while Erika Edwards chipped in with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats led 35-31 at halftime, but the team's second-half woes continued as the Hornets outscored WSU 37-22 for the period. After Joey O'Neill's layup with 15:18 remaining gave the 'Cats a 40-35 lead, Sacramento State reeled off a 12-1 run as Weber State failed to hit a field goal for the next 15 minutes and 15 seconds.
Another 9-1 run by the Hornets later in the half pushed the lead to 11 at 62-51 with 1:10 remaining and the 'Cats would get no closer than eight points for the remainder of the contest.
The Wildcats hit just 5 of 32 shots in the final period for 15.6 percent shooting after shooting an impressive 48.4 percent in the first half. The team finished the night 20 of 63 for 31.7 percent.
Ali Thorderson led the 'Cats in scoring for the third-straight game as she hit 6 of 11 shots from the field (4 of 8 from three-point range) for 16 points. Tonya Schnibbe added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Joey O'Neill chipped in with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Weber State will continue to look for its first Big Sky win of 2009 as the Wildcats play host to Northern Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2:00 p.m.
