Brace yourself: Star senior forward returns to stabilize Sac State’s frontcourt

During a Friday afternoon practice between a pair of home games for Sacramento State, senior forward Fatoumata Jaiteh roamed the baseline as the Hornets prepared for their next opponent, Eastern Washington.

In November, she suffered a knee injury that sidelined her for Sac State’s next 12 games. Without their veteran leader, the Hornets stumbled to a 4-8 record after a 5-2 start. 

After months of rehab, and a two game road trip to feel out her injury, Jaiteh glided across the floor of the Hornet Pavilion. She sported a chunky knee brace that would be more fitting on the neighboring football field, but she said if it means she can play, she’ll figure out how to adapt. 

“It’s all mental,” Jaiteh said. “I have to be extra intentional about cycling through, I can’t have one leg going faster than the other. I may not be as quick as I once was a couple months ago, I can’t beat players off the bounce like I normally would.”

It’s been a process returning to the court for Jaiteh, who credits the team’s trainer, Celieangelys Casanova, and her teammates as her source of motivation to push through. 

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Jaiteh began her career at one of Sac State’s Big Sky rivals, Northern Arizona, before transferring to the Hornets at the beginning of last season. She was an instant impact player, starting in 27 games during her first season. As one of the veterans and holdovers from last year’s roster, Jaiteh’s sideline stint has taught her what the strengths and weaknesses of her squad are. 

“They’ve done a really good job of playing through mistakes and picking each other up,” Jaiteh said. “We try and bring that energy every day. Everyone is bought in.”

As a spectator for the first time since her redshirt season with Northern Arizona, she can also visualize where her team needs her the most.

“I help set the composure offensively, and I get the ball swung to multiple sides,” Jaiteh said. “I keep the ball moving offensively. Also, I can be a positive leader out there. My teammates respect what I have to say.”

Sophomore guard Rubi Gray, Jaiteh’s teammate and the team’s leading scorer, echoed her leadership skills.

“She’s a massive part of this team,” Gray said. “Her leadership is something else.”

A day later, a physical Eastern Washington team came to town, just a day removed from a big win over Portland. The starting lineups were announced differently than usual, with Jaiteh’s name saved for last. She jogged through the human tunnel, shrugging off the fanfare of her return. 

It wouldn’t take long for her to make her presence felt. Three minutes in, she took a pair of powerful dribbles to the free throw line and nailed  the midrange jumper. She finished with six points, four of which came from clutch free throws late in the fourth quarter. 

“I was just trying to stay in the flow of things offensively,” Jaiteh said. “I wanted to let plays develop and not settle for shots.”

If not for the brace, fans would never know that she was coming off the injury. She hustled for loose balls, embraced contact around the rim and used her length to grab rebounds.

She’d finish the night as the game’s leader in rebounds, four of which came on the offensive end of the floor.

“It was great to have her back,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said. 

In the waning moments of Sac State’s eventual win over EWU, Jaiteh added an exclamation mark with a game-icing steal on a sideline out-of-bounds. 

“We’re a group of girls that pick energy up off of each other, especially on defense,” Jaiteh said. “Everyone’s rowdy, people sub in and bring that same energy.” 

With the win, the Hornets move to 10-10, but are 6-3 with Jaiteh in the starting lineup. The Hornets hit the road for an extended road trip, beginning with vists to both Montana schools on Thursday and Saturday.