FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Sacramento State put forth its best shooting effort of the season on Saturday, but late turnovers proved fatal against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in a crushing, 76-75 loss.

With the loss, Sacramento State falls to 1-14 overall and 1-11 in Big Sky competition. The Lumberjacks improve to .500, now 9-9 overall and 7-7 in league.

Like Thursday, both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter, each scoring 13 points over the first 10 minutes. Things picked up in the second half, though the Hornets trailed at halftime, 38-34.

Sacramento State came out of the break hot, tying the game with back-to-back baskets to start the third quarter before putting together an 8-0 run to take a 58-50 lead, its biggest of the afternoon. After taking the lead with 4:59 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets would not trail until there were just 20 seconds left in regulation.

In the fourth quarter, the Hornets again led by as many as eight, 71-63, with less than four minutes remaining, but a rash of turnovers proved fatal in the games' waning minutes. Sacramento State turned the ball over four times in the final two and a half minutes, contributing to an 11-2 Northern Arizona run with fewer than three minutes to play.

Sacramento State battled through the turnovers, however, reclaiming the lead on a clutch offensive rebound and put back layup by Summer Menke with just two seconds left in the game. NAU had the answer though, finding an open Khiarica Rasheed under the hoop on an inbound play for the game-winning basket at the buzzer.

The four Hornet turnovers in the game's final 2:30 were four of 24 total in the game. Northern Arizona capitalized on the mistakes, scoring 26 points off of turnovers compared to Sacramento State's 15.

Outside of the turnovers, Sacramento State put forth one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Hornets set new season highs in both field goal percentage (50.0%) and in three-point field goal percentage (44.0%). Sacramento State was 11-of-25 from beyond the arc, matching its season high for made threes in a game. They have now made 11 threes in four games, plus 10 in another three.

Junior Tiana Johnson led the Hornets in scoring once again, going for 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. Johnson also pulled in a game-high 13 rebounds, collecting her second double-double of the year. She added two assists, a steal, and a block to her line Saturday afternoon. 

Johnson led a group of four Hornets who finished in double figures Saturday. She was followed sophomore Jordan Olivares, who finished with 13 points off the bench. Olivares added three assists, two steals, and a block before fouling out with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Junior guard Summer Menke just missed her seventh double-double of the season after scoring 12 points and gathering nine rebounds. Jazzy Carrasco also finished with 12 points while making a game-high three three-pointers.

The shooting performance was a big step forward from Thursday's showing. In that game, Sacramento State shot just 31% overall and a season-low 14% from beyond the arc. 

The Hornets also outrebounded the Lumberjacks on Saturday, 39-33, though lost the offensive boards battle by the slimmest of margins, 10-9.

In total, Sacramento State led for 26 minutes of Saturday's game, its best margin of the season. Unfortunately, it all came back to the turnover difference, where NAU was better, committing just 12 to the Hornets' 24.

Sacramento State will return home for its next game, a Thursday matinee against the visiting Northern Colorado Bears. The Hornets and Bears will tip off at noon PT inside the Nest on Thursday, allowing for extra time before the team travels to Greeley, Colo. for a Saturday matchup, also with the Bears.

Thursday's game will stream live online on Pluto.TV, channel 1052, with live stats available at HornetStats.com. 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.