SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sophomore guard Rubi Gray led the Hornets with a team-high 19 points and host Sacramento State was within a possession of second-place Montana State with less than three minutes to play in regulation, but the Bobcats scored seven of the final nine points of the contest — five of those at the line — to hold off the upset bid, escaping Hornet Pavilion with a 61-54 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets fell to 13-17 overall and 7-10 in Big Sky Conference play on the year while Montana State improved to 22-6 overall and 15-2 in league play, keeping pace with first-place Idaho and remaining within a game of the Vandals heading into Monday's regular season finale.

Gray finished 8-of-19 from the field with a trio of three-pointers and five rebounds, posting her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring performance and her highest point total since she finished with 19 against Eastern Washington back on Jan. 24.

No other Hornet finished in double figures, but senior Fatoumata Jaiteh grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and senior Benthe Versteeg added nine assists to go with her nine points, three rebounds, and three steals.

Trailing by 13 points at the start of the fourth quarter, Sacramento State began to chip away at the Bobcat advantage. Junior Keanna Salave'a scored inside to spark a 10-0 run for the Hornets that made it a 50-47 contest with 6:02 left and a three-pointer by Natalie Picton three minutes later made it a two-point contest at 52-50 with 3:40 to go.

Versteeg answered a basket by Montana State with a pair of free throws to bring Sacramento State back to within a pair, but the Hornets could not find the tying score.

Montana State received a clutch three-pointer by Jamison Philip giving the Bobcats some breathing room and held Sacramento State at arms length the rest of the way, hitting 3-of-4 from the line en route to the final margin.

The Hornets close out the regular season on Monday (March 2) on the road at Idaho State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT in Pocatello, Idaho.