LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Senior Fantasia Hilliard equaled her career high with 28 points and the Hornets led by as many as 11 points in the second half before USC used a 13-2 run to pull even and was able to finish off a 101-99 win on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Sacramento State (1-8) shot a season-best 48.7% from the field and 44.8% from 3-point range, making 13-of-29 three-point shots. The Hornets led by six points at the half and trailed by just one point with three minutes to play but a 10-3 spurt by the Trojans gave the home team an eight point lead with 30 seconds left to play.

Down eight the Hornets got a layup and free throw to move within five points and sophomore Hallie Gennett hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. With the Hornets needing a steal and deflection on the ensuing inbounds pass to tie the score USC was able to inbound the ball successfully and finish the win.

The Hornets lost by single digits to a Pac-12 team for the second consecutive game after a slim nine-point loss at UCLA on Friday. Though winless through its four-game stretch against Pac-12 teams Sacramento State was competitive and in position to pick up wins in three of the four games.

USC (7-2) had just eight dressed players as its top two scorers and starting point guard all missed the game due to injuries. The Trojans used only seven players and were worn down by the Hornet attack but managed a way to use their significant advantage in size to pull out the win.

The Trojans did not make a 2-point jump shot in the game; the squad made 13 free throws and two 3-pointers for 19 points while their other 82 points all came in the paint on layups and close finishes. USC had a 50-31 overall rebounding edge and had 20 offensive rebounds to 14 Hornet boards on the offensive glass to outscore Sacramento State 22-13 in second chance points.

There were five ties and six lead changes in the game while neither team led by more than 11 points. Sacramento State was especially effective shooting the ball in the first half, going 23-of-42 (54.8%) overall from the field and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from beyond the arc. The only place the Hornets did not shoot well was at the free throw line, going 10-of-17 overall and missing several critical free throws in the final minutes of the game.

USC jumped to a 7-0 lead to start the game and took a game-high 10-point lead at 34-24 with 7:38 left in the first half. A 16-4 Hornet run over the next two and a half minutes put the visitors up two with five minutes left in the half and Gennett hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Hornets up six at halftime.

Sacramento State led 73-62 with 14:55 left in the game but the Hornets went cold after that, scoring just two points on two made free throws over a stretch of nearly six and a half minutes as USC drew even. The Trojans regained the lead on a layup with 6:47 left and never relinquished their advantage again.

Hilliard shot 12-of-18 overall and 4-of-5 from 3-point range to equal her career high in points while adding four assists and two steals. Junior Adella Randle-El had 14 points and three steals and Gennett and freshman Maranne Johnson also scored in double figures while sophomore Margaret Huntington had a season-high 12 rebounds and five points off the bench.

Six of the seven USC players that saw action in the game scored in double figures. Kiki Alofaituli had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Kaneisha Horn had 20 points and 15 rebounds shooting 9-of-12 from the field. Courtney Jaco had 10 points and was the only Trojan to hit a jump shot with two 3-point makes.

After its grueling five game road trip to Hornets return home to play just their third home game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday vs. Utah State.