Preview: Sacramento State at Portland State Women’s Basketball

PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — The Sacramento State Hornets visit the Portland State Vikings in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball matchup Saturday at the Stott Center.

Sacramento State (11-12 overall) enters looking to rebound from a 72-64 road loss at Weber State on Monday. The Hornets have shown inconsistency, sandwiching a win at Montana between that loss and a 66-31 defeat at Montana State last week.

Portland State (5-17) seeks to end a prolonged slump, having lost nine consecutive games since a conference-opening win over Weber State on Jan. 1. Their most recent defeat was a 69-57 loss at Idaho State on Monday.

A key matchup will feature Sacramento State guard Natalie Picton, who is coming off a 22-point performance against Weber State. Picton averages 16.4 points over her last five games and scored 21 points in the teams’ first meeting this season. Portland State will counter with guard Laynee Torres-Kahapea, who led the Vikings with 14 points in their last outing.

The Hornets won the earlier meeting 68-64 in Sacramento on Jan. 10. In that game, Picton’s 21 points helped Sacramento State overcome a combined 34 points from Portland State’s Taylor Moffat and Cici Ellington.

Sacramento State holds a middle-of-the-pack conference record, while Portland State resides near the bottom. The Vikings will need improved defense after allowing an average of 77.4 points during their losing streak. The Hornets, who average 61.2 points per game, will look to exploit that vulnerability.

Following this game, Sacramento State returns home to host Northern Colorado on Feb. 12. Portland State remains at home to face Northern Arizona on the same date.

Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.