SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State closes out its two-game stop at home on Saturday (Feb. 14), looking to break the hearts of visiting Northern Arizona on Valentine's Day at 2 p.m. Saturday is the team's annual "Play 4 Kay" game in support of breast cancer awareness.
GAME #26
WHAT: Northern Arizona (9-17, 5-8 Big Sky) at Sacramento State (11-14, 5-7 Big Sky)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026
TIME: 2 PM PT
WHERE: Sacramento, Calif.
ARENA: Hornet Pavilion
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: HornetSports.com
TICKETS: HornetSports.com
GAME NOTES: Sacramento State | Northern Arizona | Big Sky Conference
THE COACHES
• Sacramento State's Aaron Kallhoff enters his third year at the helm of the Hornets' program, posting a 32-57 mark and a 110-133 overall record in seven-plus seasons as a head coach
• Kallhoff claimed his 100th career win as a head coach in Sacramento State's 2025-26 season-opening win over Stanton University
• Laura Dinkins is in her first season as head coach at Northern Arizona
BIG SKY BIG PICTURE
• With the regular season coming down to the wire, the jockeying for seeding for this year's Big Sky Conference Tournament in Boise, Idaho, heats up with just over two weeks left to play
• Sacramento State and NAU are separated by just half a game in the Big Sky standings entering Saturday, with the Hornets holding on to sixth place and the Lumberjacks in seventh
• If those seedings hold, Sacramento State would not play until the quarterfinals on March 9 against the No. 3 seed (right now, Idaho State)
• Meanwhile, NAU would have to play an opening round game on the first day of competition on March 7
• NAU is also only a half game ahead of eighth-place Montana
BE MY VALENTINE
• According to available records, Saturday's game against Northern Arizona marks the 10th time that the Hornets will play on Valentine's Day and the first time since the 2018-19 season
• Sacramento State has won its last three Valentine's Day games, winning at home against North Dakota (2012-13) and Idaho (2014-15), and on the road at Southern Utah in overtime (2018-19)
• Prior to that, the Hornets had their hearts broken in four straight Valentine's Day games, falling to Idaho State in overtime (1997-98), Portland State (2003-04), Montana (2007-08), and at Montana State (2008-09)
• Sacramento State also has wins over Cal Poly Humboldt in 1980-81 and Nevada (1993-94)
ABOUT THE LUMBERJACKS
• Northern Arizona enters the weekend with a 9-17 overall record and a 5-8 mark in Big Sky Conference play after going to overtime and defeating Portland State on the road, 88-80, on Thursday night
• The Lumberjacks have won their last two straight after dropping five consecutive contests dating back to their first win over the Vikings, 80-68, back on Jan. 17
• Thursday's win over Portland State improved NAU to 4-9 on the road this season, snapping a four-game skid away from its home floor
• The team's last three games -- and four of the last five -- have been decided by single digits
• Freshman Naomi White leads the team, the Big Sky, and stands No. 9 in the NCAA in scoring at 22.3 ppg entering the weekend, shooting .421 from the field and .405 from beyond the arc
• She also averages 5.4 rpg and paces the squad with 51 steals
• Sophomore guard Madison Watts is the only other Lumberjack in double figures at 11.0 ppg while leading the team at 7.0 rpg
• As a team, Northern Arizona is averaging 72.4 ppg and shooting .415 from the field -- ranking third and fourth in the Big Sky, respectively -- while allowing a league-worst 75.0 ppg and a .426 opponent field goal percentage, which stands eighth in the conference
SERIES NOTABLES
• Northern Arizona leads the all-time series with Sacramento State, 45-20
• The Hornets posted a 78-59 victory in Flagstaff earlier this year on Jan. 15, snapping a four-game skid in the head-to-head series
• The win was Sacramento State's first since an 82-66 win on the road on Feb. 15, 2024, and was only the ninth all-time win in Flagstaff in the history of the series
• Half (10) of the Hornets' wins in the series have come at home where they are 10-19 all-time against the Lumberjacks
• However, Northern Arizona has won the last five meetings in Sacramento dating back to a 65-61 Hornet win on Jan. 17, 2019
• The Lumberjacks posted a 75-70 win at The Nest last season in the last meeting between the two in Northern California
• The two programs also have a postseason history, going head-to-head in the Big Sky Tournament in each of the last three seasons
LAST TIME OUT
• Three Hornets finished in double figures, but a huge run by visiting Northern Colorado to start the third quarter dug the home side into too deep a hole as the Bears held off Sacramento State for a 62-55 win
• Senior Benthe Versteeg finished with a team-high 14 points, while junior Natalie Picton and sophomore Rubi Gray added 12 apiece
• After a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Hornets closed the first half on a 12-4 run to erase an eight-point deficit and go into the locker room tied, 32-32, at the break
• The third quarter was decisive, however, as UNC opened the half on an 11-0 run and extended the burst to 19-2 to go up by as many as 17
• Northern Colorado then cooled off, but the Hornets could not take advantage as the Bears managed just three free throws over the final 2:29 of the third and shot just 2-for-8 with seven turnovers in the fourth to leave the door open
• Sacramento State held UNC to no field goals and only 3-of-6 from the line in the final 5:21 of regulation, getting to within five points at 60-55 with 1:38 to play, but coming no closer
HOME, SWEET HOME
• The Hornets have certainly adjusted well to their new digs at Hornet Pavilion, winning seven of their 11 home contests thus far
• Over the last two seasons, Sacramento State is a combined 16-10 at home, already surpassing its win total from the previous two years (15-14) with four home games remaining
• Even though it is a season still in progress, it is also the most home wins in back-to-back years since the Hornets finished 17-9 at The Nest in 2021-22 and 2022-23
BROOKLYN'S FINEST
• Sophomore forward Brooklyn Taylor had one of her best games of the year off the bench for the Hornets against Northern Colorado
• The Long Beach native finished with eight points, four rebounds, and a pair of blocks in 13 minutes against the Bears, hitting 4-of-5 from the field overall
• It was Taylor's best scoring night since finishing with eight points at California Baptist on Nov. 29, while the two blocks tied her season high
AND I'M THREEEEE... THREE FALLIN'
• The 1-2 punch of Gray and Picton have been among the most consistent shooters from beyond the arc in the Big Sky this year, ranking second and sixth, individually, in makes entering this week's contests
• Gray, who has 58 makes from beyond the arc, and Picton, who had 51 of her own, are two of six in the league with 50-or-more three-pointers along with Northern Arizona's Naomi White (81), Northern Colorado's Heather Baymon (57), Weber State's Lanae Billy (55), and Idaho's Kyra Gardner (52)
• As a duo, the Sacramento State pair ranks second among sharp-shooting tandems in the league (109 makes), trailing only Northern Arizona's tandem of White (81) and Audrey Taylor (38), who have 119 combined three's
• Picton's 51 makes from beyond the arc are a career high, far surpassing the 31 she drained while with Montana State last year as a sophomore
• Meanwhile, Gray's 58 makes are the most by a Hornet since Solape Amusan finished the 2023-24 season with 61
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN... BANG!
• The Hornets drained half of their 20 makes from beyond the arc in Thursday night's game against Northern Colorado
• It marked the fourth time this year that Sacramento State has finished with double digits in the category joining games at Northern Arizona (11 on Jan. 15) and at home against UC Davis (10 on Nov. 24) and Idaho (10 on Jan. 22)
SEND IT BACK!
• Sacramento State rejected eight Northern Colorado shots in Thursday night's game, setting a new high bar for the season and the most in a single contest since the Hornets blocked the same number at Northern Arizona on March 11, 2019
• That season, Sacramento State blocked eight-or-more shots as a team six times, including a season-high nine against the Bears on Feb. 19
• Thursday's total surpassed the Hornets previous season high of seven at the Chase Center against San Francisco on Dec. 17
• Individually, Versteeg finished with a career-high three swats, followed by Taylor's two, and one each from Fatoumata Jaiteh, Jaety Mandaquit, and Keanna Salave'a
• Entering the weekend, the Hornets rank third in the Big Sky Conference in both total blocks (91) and blocks per game (3.64)
• As a team, Sacramento State needs three more blocks to move into 10th on the school's single-season list and nine more to become only the eighth team to reach the century mark in a single campaign
• Last season, the Hornets knocked down 114 shots, which ranked tied for fifth on the school's single-season list with the 2022-23 team
STAYING ACTIVE
• Versteeg's 558 career assists has her ranked ninth among active Division I players, trailing Texas' Rori Harmon (899) and seven other players various "Power 4" conferences, while her career average of 4.70 apg is No. 13 among active players entering the weekend
"PIC"-KING IT UP
• Thanks to her 12 points against Northern Colorado, Picton extended her double-digit scoring streak to four straight games -- and nine of her last 11 overall dating back to Jan. 3 -- on Thursday night
• During her most recent run, Picton is averaging a robust 17.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 2.25 apg while shooting .424 (25-for-59) from the field overall
• Over her last 11, she is averaging 14.5 ppg, 4.52 rpg, and 2.0 spg
• Her 22-point effort at Weber State on Feb. 2 marked Picton's fourth 20-point game of the year -- and the fifth of her collegiate career -- along with games against UC Davis (24), Simpson (27), and Portland State (21)
• She also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds at Montana (Jan. 31) and tied her career high with her nine makes from the field against the Wildcats that was originally set in a 27-point outburst against Simpson on Dec. 15
NO GRAY AREA
• Thanks to her 12 points on Thursday against Northern Colorado, Gray joined her teammate Picton by finishing in double figures in each of her last four games, averaging 14.8 ppg in that stretch
• During that run, the sharpshooting Tasmanian has hit four-or-more three-pointers in a game in three of those four contests, shooting at a .467 (14-for-30) clip from beyond the arc
• Gray has led, or shared the team lead, in scoring in 14 of the team's 25 contests -- including eight of the last 14
MISS CONSISTENT
• Thursday's performance against the Bears continues a stellar sophomore season for Gray, who has hit for 10-or-more points in a game in 19 of her last 22 -- including 11 straight from Nov. 12 to Jan. 1
• Of those 19 double-digit performances, Gray has reached 20 points four times, including a career-high 26 points against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 21 and 26 more (to go with 11 rebounds for her first double-double) at Northern Arizona on Jan. 15
• Overall, Gray has been limited to single digits only six times in 2025-26
WHAT SOPHOMORE SLUMP?
• Following her 12 points on Thursday, Gray continues to lead the Hornets with 366 points this season -- the most points by a Sacramento State sophomore since Isnelle Natabou finished with 440 in 2021-22
• Entering this week's contests Gray ranks among the top 10 in the Big Sky in seven major offensive categories including scoring (7th), total points (9th), field goals made (t8th), three-pointers made (2nd), three-pointers per game (2nd), and minutes per game (7th)
IN THE MARGINS
• When Sacramento State wins this season, it usually wins big
• Of the team's 11 victories this season, seven have come by double-digits
• Five of the seven have been by 20-or-more points: Stanton (+85), Nevada (+20), Cal State Fullerton (+20), Simpson (+60), and Weber State (+21)
• On the other side, eight of the team's 14 defeats have been by eight points or fewer, including three of those seven by a single possession
• Sacramento State's 60-point margin of victory over Simpson on Dec. 15 is the fourth-largest in the program's history, trailing the school-record 85-point win over Stanton earlier this year, a 71-point win over San Francisco State in 1974 and a 64-point victory against Stanislaus State in 1979
EASY AS 1-2-3
• Sacramento State enters this week's game with its top three scorers all ranked among the top 20 in the Big Sky in scoring average: Rubi Gray (7th), Natalie Picton (14th), and Benthe Versteeg (19th)
• Although all 10 league representatives have at least one player among the top 20, Eastern Washington -- which has four -- is the only school with more than the Hornets
WELL, IT'S A START...
• The Hornets have gone with four guards (Benthe Versteeg, Natalie Picton, Rubi Gray, and Jaety Mandaquit) and senior Fatoumata Jaiteh in each of the team's last four games, marking the ninth different starting line up this season
• In that stretch, those five have accounted for just under 89 percent (218-of-245) of the team's total offense, including 59 of the team's 62 points (95.2 percent) at Portland State
• That lineup also accounted for 58 of the team's 64 points in a win at Montana (Jan. 31) and 56 of 64 points against Weber State (Feb. 2)
• Add in the Feb. 7 game in Portland and the Hornet starters have accounted for 50-or-more points in five of the last seven games and 13 times overall this year
• In those 13 games, Sacramento State is 9-4
THE HORNETS' NEWEST MILLENNIAL
• Senior guard Benthe Versteeg became the 19th Hornet to collect 1,000 career points on Jan. 22 against Idaho after needing just two points to reach the plateau entering the day, finishing the game with a career-high tying 26 points against the Vandals
• Versteeg became the first Sacramento State women's basketball player to accomplish the feat since Summer Menke did so in 2022
• The senior reached the mark on a right-handed floater with 3:06 remaining in the second quarter against the Vandals
• Entering this weekend's game against Northern Arizona, Versteeg now has collected 1,091 career points, launching her past three former Hornet greats and into 14th on the school's all-time scoring list
• Versteeg sped past Menke (1,078 from 2018-22), Hannah Friend (1,079 from 2016-18), and Karen Littleton (1,083 from 1975-79) for the spot and needs 59 more points to catch Emily Christensen (1,150 from 2007-12) for 13th on the list
• Versteeg has reached double figures 15 times this season while collecting the sixth 20-point game of her career against Idaho, which was her highest single-game point total since scoring 26 against both Northern Arizona (Jan. 20) and Weber State (Feb. 10) in 2024
WHO'S NEXT?
• After Versteeg surpassed the 1,000 career-point plateau, we now keep our eye on another Hornet also making her way toward the milestone
• Picton enters the weekend needing 217 points to reach the mark, accumulating 783 points in her three-year collegiate career -- including a career-high 326 this season with Sacramento State
MORE MARKS AHEAD
• The scoring list isn't the only one that Versteeg has her sights set on
• Her 418 field goals are 12 back of Alle Moreno (2010-14) and Julie Wastell (1995-99) for 10th on that list
• Versteeg's 159 steals are four behind Kris Karley (1994-97) for 10th
• Her 119 appearances are now fifth and are two back of Kylie Kuhns (2009-13) for fourth
• With her start on Feb. 7 at Portland State, Versteeg became only the fourth Hornet to start 100 career games, needing one more to match Wastell and Kristy Ryan (1990-94) for second
• With 3,750 minutes, Versteeg is now second on the all-time list, trailing record-holder Kylie Kuhns (2009-13) by 54 minutes
HISTORIC HELPING HANDS
• Entering the weekend, Versteeg has a solid grasp on 10th on the Big Sky all-time assist list with 558
• The total remains second on the Sacramento State all-time list, trailing only record-holder Fantasia Hilliard -- whose 726 career assists from 2011-15 rank second in league history -- on that chart
• Versteeg needs 16 more helpers to catch Weber State's Tonya Schnibbe (574 from 2006-10) for ninth and 29 assists to move into a tie for seventh alongside the Montana duo of Skyla Sisco (587 from 1994-98) and Mandy Morales (587 from 2005-09)
THESE THREE'S ARE NOT FREE
• Anything outside of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches and the Hornets have it covered
• Sacramento State continues to lead the Big Sky -- and ranks No. 68 in the NCAA -- in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just .283 from long range this year
• If the season ended today, that mark would be the first time that the Hornets have held an opponent to under 30 percent from distance for a season since 2005-06 (.285)
• It would also mark the fifth time an opponent has failed to crack 30 percent from three-point range in a single-season since the 1991-92 campaign
• Since the NCAA adopted the three-point line in 1987-88, the all-time school record for three-point defense came in 1988-89, when opponents shot just .218 against the Hornets
• The Hornets have held eight of their last 11 opponents to less than 30 percent from beyond the arc, while Northern Colorado's .563 from three-point range on Thursday marked only the fourth time this year that an opponent has shot better than 40 percent from deep
• Montana's 11 makes from three-point range on Jan. 31 marked only the second time this year that an opponent has made 10-or-more, but it came on 41 attempts by the Grizzlies
• Those attempts were the most by a Hornet opponent since Montana let fly 41 times from beyond the arc on Jan. 27, 2024
DE-FENSE (CLAP, CLAP)...
• Aside from its defensive exploits from beyond the arc this year, Sacramento State also stands third in scoring defense (60.2 ppg), third in field goal percentage defense (.383), and fourth in rebounding defense (35.7 rpg)
• Opponents have even struggled from the free throw line against the Hornets, shooting just .695 this year which ranks as the second-lowest in the league behind only Northern Colorado (.683)
• Montana became the 10th Hornet opponent this year to be held under 60 points in a game on Jan. 31, with Sacramento State winning nine of those 10 contests
• It's a continuation of a trend that has seen the Hornets post two of the stingiest scoring defenses in school history in the last three years as they allowed 59.9 ppg in 2022-23 (second in school history) and gave up 63.6 ppg in 2024-25 (fourth in school history)
• The all-time school record is 56.8 ppg allowed over 23 games in 1984-85
"PIC"-POCKET
• At the other end of the court, Picton has been in the pockets of opposing offenses all season, posting multiple steals in 19 of the team's 25 games -- including 10 games with three or more
• She enters this week's contests ranked fourth with 60 steals overall and fifth at 2.4 spg in the Big Sky, while standing No. 50 and No. 66 in the NCAA, respectively
• Her four steals at Northern Arizona (Jan. 15), marked her fifth game with at least four swipes in a game this season
• Her 60 swipes this year are the most by a Hornet since Maranne Johnson ended the 2017-18 campaign with 77 -- a total that ranks seventh on the school's single-season list
• Picton's total this year surpassed her single-season career best of 57 set as a sophomore at Montana State
• After setting her Hornet career high with five in the regular season opener against Stanton, Picton finished with back-to-back five-steal performances against San Jose State (Dec. 21) and Idaho State (Jan. 1)
NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T
• Picton isn't the only one with the quick hands for the Hornets this year as redshirt freshman Jaety Mandaquit has been a menace on the defensive end in her first year with the program
• She is second on the team with 33 steals, including 10 games with two or more, setting her career high with four swipes at Portland State on Feb. 7
• Having logged a steal in each of her last 12 games, Mandaquit is averaging 2.2 spg in that stretch, while posting multiple steals in six of her last eight
• Of her 33 steals, 26 of those have come during that 12-game stretch
APPLE, CHERRY... BASKETBALL FLAVORED?
• Sacramento State's defense has forced opponents into an average of 18.60 turnovers per game this season, a mark that ranks fourth in the Big Sky -- and No. 85 in the NCAA -- entering this weekend's game
• That average ranks behind only Montana State (No. 4 in the NCAA at 26.35 pg), Northern Colorado (No. 37 in the NCAA at 20.58 pg), and Idaho State (No. 76 in the NCAA at 18.92 pg)
• The Hornets have turned opponents over 20-or-more times in a game nine times, the last a 20 turnover night at Weber State on Feb. 2
