SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cal State East Bay's women's basketball team played hard-fought exhibition game against Sacramento State, falling 71-58 at The Nest on Monday night.

• With an entire 40 minutes on the floor, Ariyah Smith led the Pioneers in scoring with 24 points, going 9-for-13 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free throw line. She also had a team-high four assists. 
• Aunika Hornung, Taylor Eldredge and Gwendilyn Aasland each had eight rebounds. 
• Defensively, Hornung had five blocks and Brooke Donnelly had three steals. 
• The Hornets had four scorers reach double figures in points, led by Jaydia Martin with 20 points. 
• East Bay shot 19-for-44 from the floor to Sacramento State's 27-for-67. 

The Pioneers, coming off an 11-17 record last season, showed promise despite the loss. Head coach Jenny Thigpin, entering her third season at the helm, used the matchup as an opportunity to evaluate her squad, which features a mix of returning talent and new faces.

The exhibition served as a valuable tune-up for Cal State East Bay, allowing them to test their mettle against a Division I opponent. Despite the setback, the game provided crucial experience for the Pioneers as they prepare for their regular season opener. Cal State East Bay will next take the court to open the season on Friday, November 8, facing Northwest Nazarene in the CCAA-GNAC Crossover tournament in Ellensburg, Washington.