SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State went toe-to-toe with the visiting Southern Utah Thunderbirds in the first half of Thursday night's Big Sky matchup, powered primarily by Summer Menke's career performance. The second half proved to be another story, however, as the Hornets fell to the visiting Thunderbirds, 77-55.

With the loss, Sacramento State is now 1-17 overall and 1-14 in Big Sky competition. Southern Utah, which has been plagued by cancelations all season, is now just 8-6 overall and 4-2 in league play.

The Hornets, and especially Menke, got off to a hot start against the Thunderbirds. Menke entered Thursday night's game averaging 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds and with seven double-doubles. By the end of the first half, the Scottsdale native already had her eighth, scoring 14 points and pulling in 10 boards in the first 20 minutes of the game.

The two teams traded leads six times in the first half and were tied twice. Sarah Abney was responsible for giving Sacramento State that sixth lead, nailing a three in transition at the buzzer to send the Hornets into the half leading, 29-27. 

Things slowed down for Menke – and the Hornets – in the second half, however, though Menke still finished Thursday night's game with a game-high and career-best 22 points She finished with 12 rebounds and added an assist and a block to her final line. 

The junior guard passed her previous career best, a 21-point showing earlier this season against Nevada in the Nest (Dec. 12, 2020). Menke has now scored in double figures in 17 straight games and her eight double-doubles are the second most in the league. 

Unfortunately, though, as Menke slowed in the second half, so too did the Hornets. Sacramento State was outscored in the second half, 50-26, including a game-altering 31-12 third quarter in which the Thunderbirds shot an incredible 68% from the floor and 100% (3-3) from three.

The Hornets were unable to find an answer as Southern Utah extended its lead consistently over the course of the game's final half.

In the end, Southern Utah outshot the Hornets, 44.6-28.4%, including 40.0-27.3% from beyond the arc. While Menke led all players in scoring and rebounding, she was the only Hornet to breach double-digits, while four Thunderbirds finished with 10-plus.

With Thursday night's loss, Sacramento State saw its 11-game win streak against Southern Utah come to an end. The Hornets last loss to the Thunderbirds in the 2014 Big Sky Tournament.

Thursday night's matchup was the first of two against Southern Utah. The two teams tip off again on Saturday in the Nest at noon PT. Saturday's game will stream live online on Pluto.TV. For more information and other content on Sacramento State women's basketball, be sure to visit the Hornet women's basketball homepage online at HornetSports.com.