ARLINGTON (Interstat) — Sacramento State opened its women’s NCAA Division I basketball season with a 67-61 victory over Texas-Arlington on Tuesday at College Park Center. The Hornets used a balanced scoring effort and a late free-throw edge to hold off the Mavericks before an announced attendance of 661. The game featured several ties and lead changes, but Sacramento State made the decisive plays in the final minutes. Sacramento State improved to 1-0, while Texas-Arlington fell to 0-1.

The Hornets scored 22 points in the first quarter, 14 in the second, 16 in the third and 15 in the fourth. Texas-Arlington countered with 18 points in the first quarter, 15 in the second, 14 in the third and 14 in the fourth. Sacramento State shot 21 of 47 from the floor, including 3 of 17 from three-point range, and made 22 of 27 free throws. Texas-Arlington shot 20 of 60 overall, 6 of 16 from beyond the arc and 15 of 25 from the foul line. Sacramento State finished with 9 offensive rebounds to 11 for Texas-Arlington, 8 assists to 13 for the Mavericks, 4 blocks to 2 and 21 turnovers to 16 for the home team. The Mavericks attempted 13 more field goals than the Hornets but made one fewer. Sacramento State shot 44.7 percent from the field, while Texas-Arlington shot 33.3 percent.

Alexis Hess led Sacramento State with 15 points, four rebounds and five assists. The 6-foot-1 forward from Blandon, Pa., previously played at Fleetwood Area High School and helped steady the Hornets throughout. Elizabeth Abiara added eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Koko Akridge scored 14 points and added three rebounds and two assists. Natalie Picton finished with nine points, six rebounds and three assists while logging extensive minutes in the backcourt. Jenessa Cotton contributed seven points and three rebounds. Hess played 21 minutes, Abiara logged 27, Akridge played 37, Picton played 39 and Cotton played 14. Abiara and Cotton gave Sacramento State an interior presence, and Picton helped organize the offense against Texas-Arlington’s pressure. Hess made two 3-pointers in the second quarter and finished with 15 points despite playing 21 minutes.

Texas-Arlington received 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and one block from Chelsea Bishop. Ava Raymond added 11 points and six rebounds, while Jalyn Brown and Journee Hampton each scored 13 points. Brown also had two rebounds, and Hampton added one rebound. Morane Dossou finished with three points, five rebounds and one assist. Bishop played 31 minutes, Raymond 25, Brown 21, Hampton 22 and Dossou 19. The Mavericks distributed the ball well with 13 assists, but their shooting struggles and 16 turnovers kept them from sustaining rallies. Texas-Arlington made six 3-pointers, but it could not overcome Sacramento State’s advantage at the free-throw line. Raymond’s 11 points came in 25 minutes and helped the Mavericks stay close in the second half.

The game was tight early. Nisaa Muhammad opened the scoring with a free throw, and the teams traded baskets through the first quarter. Jalyn Brown hit 3-pointers to keep Texas-Arlington close, while Jenessa Cotton, Koko Akridge and Natalie Picton answered for Sacramento State. Cotton scored inside and made two free throws, Akridge converted a driving layup and two free throws, and Picton tied the score with a layup. Elizabeth Abiara made a layup and a free throw in the first quarter, and Morane Dossou made two free throws. Alexis Hess made two 3-pointers in the second quarter, helping the Hornets create separation. Faith Carson scored inside twice in the second quarter, and Chelsea Bishop added a layup. Texas-Arlington responded before halftime with free throws from Ava Raymond and a late Chelsea Bishop free throw. The Mavericks continued to chip away in the third quarter behind Ava Raymond and Journee Hampton, and Liz Murphy’s 3-pointer pulled Texas-Arlington within one late in the period. Sacramento State answered with an Alexis Hess tip-in and an Ajong Lual layup to carry momentum into the fourth.

The fourth quarter provided the most important stretch. Natalie Picton made a free throw, Alexis Hess hit a turnaround jumper and then a fast-break 3-pointer to push the Hornets ahead. Hess’s fast-break 3-pointer came at the seven-minute mark and gave Sacramento State a 57-50 lead. Texas-Arlington stayed within reach as Journee Hampton made a step-back 3-pointer and Chelsea Bishop converted free throws. Ava Raymond’s layup cut the deficit to three with 5:43 remaining, but Koko Akridge answered with a driving layup. Hampton hit another 3-pointer to make it a two-point game, and Elizabeth Abiara made two free throws for Sacramento State. Jalyn Brown’s layup with 1:21 left brought Texas-Arlington within three, but Akridge made two free throws with 19 seconds remaining and Picton added a free throw with 7.4 seconds left to seal the result. Bishop made two free throws with 49.9 seconds remaining to pull Texas-Arlington within three before Akridge’s final free throws. Sacramento State scored 67 points from 72 possessions and posted an offensive rating of 93.3, while Texas-Arlington scored 61 points from 77 possessions and had an offensive rating of 79.3.

Sacramento State’s late execution at the foul line proved decisive. The Hornets made 22 of 27 free throws overall, including key attempts from Akridge, Picton and Abiara in the closing minutes. Texas-Arlington finished 15 of 25 from the line and could not close the gap after Raymond’s layup made it a three-point game. The Mavericks had chances in the final minute, but Sacramento State’s defense and rebounding did enough to preserve the win. Abiara’s two blocks and Hess’s all-around line helped the Hornets overcome 21 turnovers. Texas-Arlington’s 11 offensive rebounds and 13 assists kept the game close, but Sacramento State held on for the season-opening road victory. The Hornets made seven more free throws than Texas-Arlington, a key factor in the final margin.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sacramento State 59, Texas-Arlington 57. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas-Arlington with a 56.7 percent probability to win.