SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State tied the Big Sky single game record with 28 steals, forcing 33 total turnovers, and led by 31 at halftime after a huge first half in an 84-53 win over Idaho State.

Sacramento State (8-10, 6-1 Big Sky) won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 5-1 at home this season to remain on top of the Big Sky standings. The Hornets, who led the NCAA with 15.7 steals per game entering Thursday's contest, total 28 thefts to equal the Big Sky record set by Montana State vs. Montana Tech in 2000. The total was the most steals ever in a Big Sky conference game. By contrast, Idaho State totaled just four steals Thursday night.

The Hornets led by as many as 34 points in the game and shot 42.5% overall, including 52.5% shooting in a brilliant first half. Idaho State (8-9, 3-4 Big Sky) committed 21 turnovers in the first half and was outscored by Sacramento State 34-4 in points off turnovers for the game.

"We just did a good job guarding them and disrupting their game plan," Sacramento State head coach Bunky Harkleroad said. "They're a good team and a lot better then they played tonight. We caught a few breaks and did a good job guarding and getting points off turnovers, especially in the first half."

It took the Hornets less than four minutes into the game to build a double-digit lead and the advantage kept growing, reaching 24 points at 32-8 with just over 11 minutes played. The Bengals shot a decent 47.4% in the first half but Sacramento State attempted 21 more shots in the period and couldn't miss early, finishing the half 21-of-40 overall and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.

The Hornets led by 34 early in the second half and were up by at least 26 points for the duration of the period. Idaho State outshot Sacramento State .469-.325 and made two more field goals in the half but couldn't make up much ground as the half finished even at 35-35 and the home team finished a 31-point win, by far its largest margin of victory this season.

In a balanced team effort just two Hornets finished the game with double-digit scoring. It was a career night for sophomore Margaret Huntington, who scored a career-high 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting and had 10 rebounds for her third career double-double.

"It was so fun," Huntington said. "I think we were all just running and sharing the ball and we just had fun tonight. It feels good coming out of this crazy preseason schedule and I'm happy we are putting things together now since conference play is the most important."

Sophomore Hallie Gennett scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting while no other Hornet finished with more than seven points but 13 total players scored in the contest. The Hornets also had 13 players record at least one steal, led by five from junior Adella Randle-El, to use a cumulative defensive effort to match the Big Sky steals record.

Sacramento State had just 10 turnovers of their own and has now had 14 or fewer turnovers in five consecutive games, contributing to its Big Sky-leading turnover margin which now stands at +11.2 overall this season and +14.3 in Big Sky play. The Hornets finished shy of their NCAA-leading made 3-pointers average but did hit nine threes while shooting a solid 39.1% from beyond the arc.

Idaho State had the edge in rebounding 47-39 but the Hornets pulled down 22 offensive boards leading to 29 more field goal attempts in the game. Sacramento State had an impressive 46-40 advantage in points in the paint against a taller Idaho State team and recorded a season-high five blocks, led by three rejections from junior Sydonia Daniels.

Just two Bengals scored in double figures as Apiphany Woods had 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Anna Policicchio had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Grace Kenyon had an astounding 13 turnovers in the game but led her team with five assists. Idaho State shot just two 3-pointers in the game, making one.

The scored would have been quite a bit higher if not for both teams struggling mightily from the free throw line. Idaho State shot 4-of-16 (25%) from the free throw line for the game while the Hornets were slightly better at 7-of-16 (43.8%) from the charity stripe.

Sacramento State looks to make it seven wins in a row when it hosts Weber State at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats are 8-10 overall and 3-4 in the Big Sky after a 60-51 win Thursday night at Portland State.