BOISE, Idaho -- Four Hornets scored in double figures, led by Benthe Versteeg's game-high 24 points, but Sacramento State's season came to a close with a 69-65 loss to Northern Arizona in the quarterfinal round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

The Hornets, who advanced to the quarters with a first round win over Eastern Washington yesterday, conclude the season with a 15-18 overall record. Sacramento State was the No. 8 seed at the tournament, and nearly took down No. 2 seed Northern Arizona (26-6).

In fact, the Hornets took a 48-46 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but the Lumberjacks answered with a 9-0 run to go up, 55-48, with seven minutes to play. Sacramento State would cut the deficit to four points on four occasions during the final 2:30, but could never slice it to a one-possession game.

The Hornets held Northern Arizona to just 28% (21-75) shooting from the field, and 20% (6-30) from the 3-point line, but the Lumberjacks held large advantages in the rebounding department (59-37) and from the free throw line. The Lumberjacks made 21-of-25 (84%) from the line while the Hornets were just 8-for-10. That free throw disparity loomed large as Sacramento State made four more field goals (25-for-70, 36%) than NAU.

The Hornets trailed by as many as 14 points late in the second quarter, but the team used a 12-0 run spanning parts of the second and third quarters to get within, 34-32, of NAU's lead. From that point, no team led by more than seven points the remainder of the contest.

Versteeg finished just two points shy of a career best with a game-high 24 points. She also had nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. The five assists gives her 208 this season, tying the program's single-season record for assists. That's the same mark she finished with last season when Versteeg originally set the program high.

Jaydia Martin, despite early foul trouble, finished with 18 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals. In her final season with the Hornets, Martin finished as the team's leading scorer at 14.8 ppg. Also in her final season, Katie Peneueta had 10 points, four rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots. She finished the season with averages of 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Rounding out the Hornet quartet in double figures was Fatoumata Jaiteh who had 10 points and six boards. Each of the Hornet starters played over 30 minutes, including Versteeg who played the full 40. The Hornets did not get a point from their bench as the team's fifth starter, Lina Falk, had three points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Though the season comes to an end, the Hornets made significant progress. After winning six games a year ago, the program had a nine-win improvement despite numerous injuries and ailments throughout the season. Versteeg was a first team all-Big Sky selection while Martin was selected to the second team.