SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State's Sarah Abney scored a career-best 17 points and Tiana Johnson picked up her first double-double of the year, but even together the duo's effort wasn't enough against the Big Sky-leading Idaho State Bengals in a 69-57 Hornets loss Thursday in the Nest.

With the loss, Sacramento State is now 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the Big Sky. Idaho State, meanwhile, improves to 9-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in league play.

Three different Hornets finished in double figures Thursday night, led by a career-best 17 from junior guard Sarah Abney. The Las Cruces native was 6-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line. Abney added three rebounds and an assist to her line. 

Abney, who redshirted last season, passed her previous career high of 10 points, a mark she set her freshman year in a Hornets win over Antelope Valley in the Nest.

Also finishing in double figures Thursday for the Hornets were junior forward Tiana Johnson and junior guard Summer Menke.

Johnson finished with 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, giving her her first double-double of the 2020-21 season. Johnson missed most of December, but since returning to the roster at the start of January, Johnson is averaging 16.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Summer Menke also scored 12 for the Hornets and finished with a team-high three steals to go with three assists. Her assists were topped only by sophomore guard Jordan Olivares, who finished the night with a game-high six assists.  

Although Sacramento State scored the first points of the game on a Jordan Olivares bucket, that lead was the last the Hornets would have all evening against the Bengals. Idaho State went ahead, 4-2, just over three minutes into the game, and never trailed again.

The Hornets found themselves in a seven-point hole after one quarter, a deficit that grew to 15 at the half. Sacramento State put together a 7-0 run late in the third quarter, but by then it was too late. Even a six-point advantage in the fourth quarter wasn't enough for the Hornets, who eventually gave way to Idaho State.

Overall, Sacramento State shot 30.2% from the floor, compared to 35.5% for the Bengals. Both teams struggled from distance, shooting 25.8% and 15.05%, respectively.

The biggest differences in Thursday's box score came in the rebound and free throw columns. Idaho State outrebounded the Hornets by a sizable margin, 56-32, while making twice as many free throws, 22-11.

Thursday's game was the first of two for the Hornets against the Big Sky's only undefeated club. The Hornets and Bengals will tip off right back here in the Nest on Saturday, Jan. 16 at noon.

As a reminder, fans are not allowed at Sacramento State home games this season but can catch all of the action live online on Pluto TV. For information on all upcoming games and the latest on the Sacramento State women's basketball schedule, be sure to visit the Sacramento State women's basketball homepage online at HornetSports.com.