Although they suffered two losses this week, the Sacramento State women’s basketball team proved they were capable of running with the pack.

After trailing by 15 points in the second half against the University of Nevada Wolf Pack on Sunday, the Hornets managed to trim the lead down to five points with just over two minutes remaining.

But Nevada would go on a 13-7 run to escape with a 65-54 victory in Hornet gym, dropping Sac State’s record to 0-5.

The loss to Nevada rounded out a 0-2 week for the Hornets. On Friday they dropped a home game against the University of California San Diego, 71-45, but throughout both games the Hornets managed to hang tough.

Against Nevada, Sac State trailed the entire 40 minutes, but remained well within striking distance for much of the contest. The Hornets played without their leading scorer Sarah Craig, who sits out Sunday games because of religious convictions.

“We just needed a spark,” guard Sydney Gatson said. “Our team has obviously been playing a little flat lately and we all came out really aggressive. We all wanted it and it showed tonight.”

The Wolf Pack hit their first three shots in the match, outscoring the Hornets 7-0 in the first four minutes of play.

Sac State center Kristine Knowlton then responded with a lay-up, putting the Hornets onto the scoreboard for the first time.

Knowlton scored a season high 10 points, on 5-of-7 shooting and recorded a team-high nine rebounds.

Rebounding according to Hornet head coach Carolyn Jenkins, is the critical factor that Sac State needs before they can start winning.

“I haven’t had a very good season so far,” Knowlton said. “I was just trying to get in the groove, keep the team pumped up, and just get our flow going there.

“(I was) trying to win so hard. It felt like it was our night, but we just couldn’t pull it out.”

Both teams traded baskets within the first half, until, with 12 minutes remaining, Nevada pulled away with nine unanswered points, giving the Wolf Pack a 12 point lead.

Hornet team captain Diane Peterson immediately responded with a three-pointer, putting Sac State within single digits. A foul on the other end of the court resulted in free-throws for post player Danielle Iceman. She reduced the lead to eight points.

The Hornets completed the first half trailing by eight points. For Sac State, it was the first home game this season that didn’t end the first half with the team down double digits.

After a scoring run by Gatson, the Hornets reduced the deficit to five points with 2:03 remaining. The comeback was capped off with a 3-pointer by Peterson.

Gatson, scored a team high 16 points, contributed a team-high five assists and pulled down seven boards. This was just her second game since returning to the team after a back injury.

“It’s just evidence that when I get on the floor I’m going to give my 100 percent regardless (of my injury),” Gatson said. “Passing has always been my strongest point.

“I’ve always been a point guard and a shooting guard. That’s one of my fortes I guess you could say — passing. I work on that a lot.”The Hornets shot 35 percent from the field, and hit a season-high 41.7 percent from three-point land.

“We’re getting closer and closer (to winning),” Jenkins said. “I think once we hit that mark and we win, it’s just going to snowball for us. They fought with Sarah (Craig) out — it’s Sunday. We had people step up.”

Against San Diego, the Hornets trailed the entire game, but remained within single digits throughout the first 18 minutes of the contest.

The Hornets managed to hold onto a single digit deficit throughout much of the first half, but fell behind by double digits with 1:37 remaining in the half.

In the second half, the Toreros increased their lead to 24 points, and it never dropped below 18.

“In teams of past, (Sac State has) given up on games like this,” San Diego coach Kathy Marpe said. “There was no give up in these kids. I think that definitely the staff has gotten them to turn the corner.”

“Our focus was all on half court offensive execution,” Jenkins said. “I give our team credit, they came out and focused on that.

“What’s killing us right now is our rebounding. Katelyn (Ciampi) did a great job coming back.

She had a tough game the other night, but she had a great game tonight. She really helped us on the inside.”

The Hornets were out rebounded 46-36 by the Toreros, and were out-shot 41.5-28.8 percent.

Freshman center Katelyn Ciampi led all scorers with a career-high 15 points, on 6-of-9 shooting.

“She’s killing us,” Marpe said after Ciampi nailed a lay-up in the second period.

“It doesn’t matter about scoring,” Ciampi said. “I just go out to play and I’m here for my team. I didn’t have a very good game a couple days ago. I told myself that I wasn’t going to let that happen again and I just went out and did my best.”

The Toreros’ dominated the second half, with the Hornets coming no closer than 16 points.

“(When) we get better at rebounding, that’s what is going to put us over the top, offensively and defensively,” Jenkins said. “Especially on nights when we’re not shooting the ball well.”

Sac State will hit the road for a game today at the University of Pacific and on Saturday the Hornets will visit the University of California Riverside.

Sac State will host their next home game on Saturday, Dec. 21 against Notre Dame de Namur. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.