The Hornets, who have lost their last two games by a combined five points, fall to 5-9 overall and 0-2 in the Big Sky Conference, while Weber State improves to 7-8 and 1-1.

Sacramento State, now on a five-game losing streak, never had the lead in the game and trailed 31-24 at halftime. It was the Hornets’ high-pressure defense that forced the Wildcats into 23 turnovers (13 in the second half) and created a season-high 17 steals, helping Sacramento State outscore Weber State 31-26 in the final 20 minutes.

The Hornets closed within two, 51-49, on an Ashley Cadotte layup with 2:57 remaining and the defense forced the Wildcats into one missed shot and three turnovers on their next four possessions until Tashina Taylor’s layup extended Weber State’s lead to 53-49 with only 46 seconds remaining.

Cherry knocked down six free throws in the final minute, including two with 17 seconds remaining, to bring the score to 57-55. The Hornets then fouled Weber State’s Darcee Perdue with nine seconds remaining. Cadotte corralled the rebound on Perdue’s miss, but Sacramento State turned the ball over before getting a shot off for the equalizer.

The Hornets shot just 35.4 percent from the floor and were just 7-of-25 (28 percent) from beyond the three-point line. Weber State was more efficient from the field, shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from behind the arc.

The Wildcats were led by Chelsey Warburton, who knocked four three pointers and scored a team-high 14 points. Sara Tuomi added 13 points and dished out a game-high seven assists.

Kim Sheehy was the only other Hornet to score in double figures, adding 10 points and knocking down two treys. She has now hit at least one three-pointer in her last 20 games, a streak that leads the Big Sky. Cadotte pulled down a game-high nine rebounds and also picked up a career-high six steals. The Oregon City, Ore., native continues to lead the team averaging 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.

Weber State opened the first half, taking a 13-5 lead, and by the 2:57 mark, had a 29-18 lead after Warburton’s three-pointer. Two consecutive three-pointers from Sacramento State’s Lindsey Heard cut the Wildcats’ lead to seven, 31-24, at the break.

Sacramento State plays its next three Big Sky games on the road, traveling to Montana State on Thursday, Jan. 19, and Montana on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Hornets return to the Nest on Thursday, Feb. 2, hosting Eastern Washington at 7:05 p.m.