The Hornets (3-3) are now on a two-game winning streak and remain undefeated at the Nest (3-0) while the Aggies fall to 4-4 and have their three-game winning streak snapped. Sacramento State is also off to its best start since the 1995-96 season.

“This is great satisfaction for our players to get this win,” head coach Dan Muscatell said of his team, who dropped two games to UC Davis a year ago. “To our kids, this was not so much as winning the rivalry game, as it was evening the score.”

Sacramento State started the game on all cylinders, scoring the first basket and building a 13-6 lead by the 14:40 mark with a three-pointer from Sheehy.

The Hornets’ man-to-man defense held the Aggies at bay, as UC Davis never gained the lead. The Hornets also forced the Aggies into 20 turnovers and picked up 11 steals, led by Cherry’s four.

“We had a great three days of preparation for this game,” Muscatell said.” I thought we put together a defensive game plan that would work well and our players went out and brought it to life.”

A three-pointer from UC Davis’ Genevieve Costello tied things at 19-19 with 9:06 remaining in the first half, but a three-pointer and free throws from senior Lindsey Heard helped the Sacramento State build a double-digit lead, 35-25, with 2:50 remaining. Sheehy then sank her fourth three-pointer of the half and hit two free throws to extend Sacramento State’s halftime lead to 44-28. It marked the first time this season the Hornets have went to the break with the lead.

“The game itself was defined by the word ‘team’,” Muscatell said. “We shared the defensive responsibilities that come with playing against a Princeton offense and we were able to shut them down.”

The victory also gives Sacramento State 10 points and a 40-22.5 lead in the Causeway Cup, an all-sports battle between the two schools.

During the second half, Sacramento State extended its lead to 61-38, its largest of the game with 10:32 remaining.

The Hornets were led by the guard combination of Sheehy and Cherry, who scored 16 points apiece. Sheehy sank four three-pointers marking the third time she has hit at least four during a game this season. Cherry finished in double figures for the third time this year on 6-of-11 shooting. At just 5-foot-6, she also pulled down a game and season-high eight rebounds while dishing out four assists.

Heard scored a season-high 15 points and hit a season-high three treys, while also picking up six rebounds and recording two assists. Senior guard Cindy Alldrin scored in double figures for the third consecutive game, contributing 11 points.

The Hornets shot a season best 50.0 percent from the floor and were also 10-of-21 from beyond the arc, helping the team to its largest scoring total of the season.

UC Davis was led by Kimberly Smith’s game-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Ellen Porshneva also finished with 17 and Jesscia Campbell added 10 for the Aggies.

Sacramento State will have a week to prepare for its next opponent, traveling to Nevada on Saturday, Dec. 17.