OGDEN, Utah – After trailing by 15 points in the first quarter, Weber State used a monster second quarter in which it outscored Sacramento State, 24-4, to take a halftime lead and maintained its advantage throughout the second half in a 77-66 win over the Hornets on Saturday afternoon.
 
Weber State (12-5, 4-1 Big Sky) beat the Hornets for the first time since 2011. Sacramento State (6-10, 3-2 Big Sky) had won the last eight meetings between the teams, losing Saturday's game in large part by having more turnovers than its opponent for the first time this season.
 
The Hornets, who entered the game leading NCAA Div. I at +14 in turnover margin, had 21 giveaways while Weber State had 19. Sacramento State had 13 offensive rebounds but just one o-board in the first half and got to the free throw line only 10 times, converting seven.
 
Junior Margaret Huntington had her best game of the season, tallying 17 points and 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. That included 15 points and 13 rebounds in the second half while the rest of the team totaled just 17 points and 11 boards in the half. Huntington finished the game shooting 7-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free throw line.
 
The Hornets made eight of their first 10 shots of the game to take an early 15-point lead at 30-15. The visitors led 30-18 at the end of the first quarter after shooting 12-of-18 in the period and forcing eight turnovers with just two of their own.
 
Weber State came storming back in the second, outscoring Sacramento State 24-4 while making seven straight shots at one point. The Hornets were 1-of-10 in the second quarter with 10 turnovers in easily their worst quarter by all statistical measures this season.
 
Sacramento State got back within a 43-41 deficit two minutes into the third quarter but followed with a scoring drought of nearly five minutes as the Wildcats extended their lead to 59-47 heading to the fourth. The Hornets were down just, 69-64, in the final minute but Weber State knocked down 8-of-8 late free throws to complete the win.  
 
The Hornets did outrebound the Wildcats, 35-33, and shot a decent 40.6 percent from the field, but equaled their season low with just seven made 3-pointers and had just 64 total field goal attempts. Weber State shot 49.1 percent, shooting better than 55 percent in each of the first three quarters, and burying seven 3-pointers while shooting 18-of-23 at the free throw line.
 
Hornet senior Adella Randle-El put in 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and junior Gretchen Harrigan had 12 points. For Weber State, Deeshyra Thomas had 21 points and Regina Okoye totaled 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Hornets are off for a week before playing at Portland State next Saturday at noon. Sacramento State routed Portland State and broke the Big Sky single-game scoring record in its 132-91 win over the Vikings Jan. 2.