Sacramento State Opens Season With Win Over Texas Southern
The Hornets women's basketball team beat Texas Southern in its season opener on November 7, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Sacramento State's women's basketball team defeated Texas Southern in its season opener, leading 31-19 at halftime. The Hornets built a lead of as many as 14 points and closed out the game with two free throws from Koko Akridge.
Why it matters
The win gives Sacramento State an early-season result built around a roster where three of five starters arrived through the transfer portal. It sets the tone for the team's first stretch of games against outside competition.
Alexis Hess made 50% of her 3-pointers and recorded five assists, while Achol Magot shot 4-for-4 in seven minutes. Texas Southern's Jalyn Brown finished with 13 points after being held to four in the second half.
The players
Sacramento State Hornets
The women's basketball program of California State University, Sacramento, competing in the Big Sky Conference.
Texas Southern Tigers
The women's basketball program of Texas Southern University, a historically Black university in Houston, Texas.
The details
Hess drew a bounce pass from Natalie Picton and hit a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter, and Tali Fa'i limited Brown's scoring after halftime. Elizabeth Abiara added seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while Picton was forced into six turnovers.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Sacramento State defeats Texas Southern in its season opener.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 6 p.m.: Next game at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Season Trajectory
Three of Sacramento State's five starters came to the program through the NCAA transfer portal, a pattern common across college basketball in recent seasons. The season opener offers an early indication of how quickly those newcomers can integrate into a single lineup.
Fans following the team can track its next game at Nevada on Saturday at 6 p.m. Fantasy and bracket watchers should note that the Hornets opened with a double-digit lead and held off a late Texas Southern charge.
The takeaway
A balanced roster built through the transfer portal can produce a complete opening performance, with contributions spread across shooting, rebounding and defense. Early results like this give coaches a baseline to measure growth against as the schedule gets tougher.
What happens next
Sacramento State travels to the University of Nevada, Reno, for its next game on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Further reading
For more on the local program, see Sacramento Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The State Hornet.
