Postgame Pressconference -
Harkleroad, Hilliard, and Randle-EL

Photos courtesy Todd Goodrich/Montana

MISSOULA, Mont. – Playing in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals for just the third time in program history, Sacramento State had 12 ties and seven lead changes vs. Northern Colorado but the Bears were able to emerge with an 81-79 overtime victory in Missoula.

Despite the loss the season may not be over for Sacramento State (16-15). If Montana wins the Big Sky Tournament on Saturday the Hornets would receive an automatic berth in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) by virtue of finishing second in the Big Sky in the regular season. The Lady Griz will host Northern Colorado for the league title at 1 p.m. Pacific time Saturday.

The Hornets had their chances late in the second half and in overtime but could not overcome Northern Colorado (20-11), which won its 10th consecutive game. Down two points, Sacramento State had possession with 18 seconds left in overtime with a chance to tie or win the game. On a drive by senior Takara Burse her pass back out was deflected and sophomore Hallie Gennett had to take an off-balance 3-point attempt that hit off the backboard to end the game.

"It was a very good basketball team that beat us today so you have to give them credit," Sacramento State head coach Bunky Harkleroad said. "They made some big plays down the stretch. I'm really proud of our team for fighting and showing a lot of heart and a lot of toughness today. In March sometimes you get those breaks and sometimes you don't, and today is one of those times when we didn't."

Sacramento State led by two with 10 seconds left in regulation but Northern Colorado senior D'Shara Strange, the co-Big Sky Player of the Year, banked in a shot with less than five seconds to play and the Hornets could not get off a shot before the game went to overtime.

Playing an overtime game for the first time since Dec. 30, 2012, the Hornets were still tied with the Bears at 78-78 with two minutes to play. Lindsay Mallon put UNC ahead with a jumper and on the next possession Hornet junior Adella Randle made 1-of-2 from the free throw line to make it a one-point game with 1:22 left.

The teams traded missed shots and turnovers and with 20 seconds to play the Hornets sent Strange to the line still trailing 80-79. She missed both free throws, and on the second the rebound went out of bounds and was called Northern Colorado ball. An ensuing video review did not show anything conclusive so the possession stayed with the Bears.

With 18 seconds left the Hornets fouled senior Stephanie Lee, who made 1-of-2 from the line to give the Hornets a chance to tie or win the game. Harkleroad called a timeout with 12 seconds left but the Bears forced a contested shot at the buzzer.

Sacramento State's best chance to win the game actually came in regulation time. With the score tied at 70-70 senior Andrea Chenier knocked down a jumper to put the Hornets ahead by two with 23 seconds to play. On the ensuing UNC possession Kyleigh Hiser missed a three that was rebounded by Chenier and passed to senior Fantasia Hilliard, who eluded two Bears trying to foul her but ended up losing the ball out of bounds with 10 seconds left. Strange capitalized on the subsequent in-bounds pass to force overtime.

"People have no idea how hard it is to play point guard for us and she's done an unbelievable job," said Harkleroad of Hilliard. "We had a shot today and this time of the year sometimes you get the breaks and sometimes you don't. Without her we would have been done."

Hilliard finished with 15 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and five steals in a team season-high 42 minutes played. She moved past former Montana guard Brooklynn Lorenzen into second place in Big Sky history with 704 career assists and also became just the third player in Big Sky history to surpass 300 career steals.

Randle-El had a career-high 24 points, making four 3-pointers and shooting 9-of-17 from the field. Sophomore Kyhonta Doughty continued a superb week at the tournament with 10 points, eight rebounds, and three steals and sophomore Gretchen Harrigan had eight points and eight boards.

The Hornets shot 43.5% for the game and the Bears were an even 50%. Sacramento State made 11 threes but UNC made 10 of its own and had just 18 turnovers to 16 Hornet giveaways. The Bears had a 40-36 rebounding advantage while both teams struggled from the free throw line, with the Hornets going 8-for-16 and Northern Colorado shooting 9-of-16.

Northern Colorado led 34-31 at halftime and led by as many as 10 points with a 20-10 lead at the 9:05 mark in the first half as both teams started cold from the field. With the game knotted at 40-40 in the second half the Hornets had a 9-3 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 49-43 with 11:58 left in regulation. Neither team led by more than five points for the remainder of the game.

Strange finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists shooting 10-of-15 from the field. Lee had 17 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks while Kourtney Zadina hit six 3-pointers off the bench for 18 points.

Sacramento State had gone 80 games since its last overtime contest and hadn't had a Big Sky game go to overtime since 2011. The team's last Big Sky Tournament game to go to overtime was during the 2008-09 season, also in Missoula and also a two-point loss, that time vs. Idaho State.