The Hornets, now 5-5 on the year, were led by Kim Sheehy’s game-high 20 points, but the Aggies (3-7) responded with four players scoring in double figures.

Irma Kmitaite scored a team-high 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the three-point line to lead New Mexico State, while Tristan Baker added 11 points, three assists and two steals.

Sacramento State, who was shooting .358 from beyond the arc entering the game, struggled at the Pan American Center, shooting just 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from beyond the three-point line. Sheehy extended her streak of games with at least one three-pointer to 16, shooting 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. It was the fifth time this year the junior guard has knocked down at least four treys in a game.

Senior center Katelyn Ciampi was the only other Hornet to finish in double figures, scoring a season-high 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Early on in the game, Sacramento State jumped out to a 7-2 lead with baskets from Ciampi and Sheehy. The Hornets relinquished the lead only once in the next five minutes, before holding a 17-12 advantage at the 12:02 mark after a Stephanie Cherry three-pointer.

An offensive drought from the Hornets during the following three minutes allowed New Mexico State to go on a 13-4 run, giving the Aggies the lead for good.

As the half came to an end, New Mexcio State built its lead to double digits, 39-28, at the 2:20 mark before heading into the break with a 45-33 edge.

Sacramento State’s biggest struggles came on the defensive end. The Hornets had been forcing opponents into 21.4 turnovers game, but the Aggies were able to maintain possession, turning the ball over just 11 times, compared to Sacramento State’s 19 turnovers.

The Hornets, who were also averaging 10.89 steals per game, were only credited with four steals during the game and after averaging 16 trips to the free-throw line per game, reached the charity stripe on only nine occasions.

In the second half, senior guard Cindy Alldrin started things with a quick jumper, but the Hornets once again went cold, failing to score on their next 11 possessions, while New Mexico State went on a 9-0 run to take a 54-35 lead with 14:40 remaining.

The Aggies largest lead of the game came at the 8:03 mark after a layup from Monique Bribiescas gave New Mexico State a 65-40 edge.

Sacramento State would get no closer than cutting the deficit to 14 points in the later stages of the game.

The Hornets are yet to win a game on the road the season (0-5), while posting an undefeated record (5-0) at the Hornets Nest.

Sacramento State next travels to Saint Mary’s on Saturday, Dec.31. The game can be followed at 1:05 p.m. on gametracker at www.smcgaels.com. In their final pre-conference game, the Hornets travel cross-country to play George Washington, who is currently receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll, on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Sacramento State then returns home for its Big Sky Conference opener against Idaho State on Thursday, Jan. 12.