SUTTER, CA (YSBC) - The Sutter Union girls’ basketball team clinched their first league title in nine years as they beat the Natomas Nighthawks 49-46 in a Golden Empire League matchup on Feb. 12.

Sutter ended the season with winning nine of their 10 games. 

Huskies freshman Gia Rickertsen was a big presence in the first quarter as she scored six of the nine points in the first quarter.

Natomas trailed 9-6 after the first but Nighthawks junior guard Ana Elkins found the outside stroke from the perimeter as she scored eight of her game-high 24 points in the second.

Natomas junior guard Ana Elkins (3) heaves a shot at the buzzer on Feb 12 in the Nighthawks’ loss to Sutter. Photo by Steven Bryla.

Natomas took the lead with three minutes to go in the first half and led 22-14. Sutter went cold from the field and struggled holding onto the ball in the second quarter.

The Huskies momentum changed quickly in the second half as they opened with a 6-2 run in the third where Sutter junior Mia Bautista and senior Presley Peyret each knocked down a pair of three pointers.

Bautista expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that she is ecstatic for the way her and her teammates bonded together for the victory and were able to get a league title for the program.

Bautista led the Huskies with 18 points in the win. She added that the Huskies weren’t as physical in the first half, but they made that adjustment early in the third quarter.

Sutter freshman Gia Rickertsen (10) shoots a jumper on Feb 12 in the Huskies’ victory against Natomas. Photo by Steven Bryla

Sutter took a 36-29 lead heading into the final quarter and held on despite a good effort by the Nighthawks to bring the game to one possession in the final minute.

Elkins couldn’t miss in the final quarter and brought Natomas back into the game, but the Sutter defense forced Elkins to heave the ball just inside the half-court line. 

The Huskies celebrated with hugs and jumping as Elkins’ shot fell short for the GEL crown.

Sutter head coach Brandee Harter hugged her team and glistened the floor with smiles. 

Harter told YSBC that although it’s great to win a league title, the job isn’t done yet. 

The Huskies were given the No. 8 seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV bracket.

Sutter hosted Valley Christian (Roseville) on Tuesday night and the result of this game was after press time.