SACRAMENTO -- A season after being named the Big Sky Conference's Newcomer of the Year and an all-league second team selection, Sacramento State junior Isnelle Natabou added another honor to her burgeoning career in the green and gold on Thursday, selected as one of seven student-athletes named to the conference's preseason all-league team.
Already named one of 25 players from across the nation to the preseason watch list for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats on Oct. 19, and selected as the preseason player of the year pick in the Big Sky according to ESPN.com on Oct. 25, Natabou becomes only the third Hornet since 2015-16 to be named to the league's preseason all-conference team since 2015-16, joining former standouts Brianna Burgos (2016-17) and Kennedy Nicholas (2019-20) as preseason all-league honorees.
The native of the Czech Republic shined in her first Division I campaign for the Hornets, finishing among the top 25 in the NCAA in field goal percentages (.643), offensive rebounds (4.2 rpg), rebounds per game (10.9 rpg), and total rebounds (328), while standing No. 23 in the nation with 15 double-doubles — a total that included a run of 10 straight from Jan. 15 to Feb. 12.
She started all 30 games for Sacramento State, ranking seventh in the league in scoring at 14.7 ppg and leading the conference in rebounding, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds. Natabou finished in double figures in all but four games, which included seven 20-plus point performances and a season-high 31 points on 11-of-15 from the field against Southern Utah on Dec. 30.
Grabbing double-digit rebounds 15 times, Natabou collected a season-high 22 rebounds twice against Portland State (Jan. 15) and Idaho (Jan. 22) as part of her 10 consecutive double-doubles — including 10 offensive rebounds against the Vikings.
Natabou finished the year with 182 field goals made, which ranked 10th on the school's single-season list, while her .643 field goal percentage is second behind only Sue Digitale's .645 in 1976-77. Her 328 rebounds also rank fourth on the school's single-season chart, while her 10.9 rebounds per game are tied for seventh.
Natabou and her Sacramento State teammates officially open the 2022-23 campaign at home on Nov. 12, welcoming UC Irvine to The Nest for a 1 p.m. tip-off. The Hornets were picked to finish fifth in the league by both the league's head coaches and the media -- the highest preseason pick for the program since 2015-16 -- while the Anteaters, who were picked to finish sixth in the preseason Big West Conference poll, finished second in the league during the 2021-22 regular season, reached the conference tournament championship game, and earned a WNIT berth.
Season ticket packages are available starting as low as $75, while single-game tickets are also on sale. More information can be found at HornetSports.com or by calling the athletics ticket office at (916) 278-2222.
2022-23 PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE TEAMÂ
Darian White, Montana State (MVP)*
Beyonce Bea, Idaho*
Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State
Carmen Gfeller, Montana
Hannah Simental, Northern Colorado
Kola Bad Bear, Montana State
Daryn Hickok, Weber State
* Unanimous selection
NOTE: There are seven members named to the preseason all-conference team due to a tie for the final spot
