SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Four Hornets scored 16 or more points and Sacramento State shot a blistering 48.4% overall and was 9-of-18 (50%) from 3-point range to defeat defending Big Sky champion North Dakota, 93-86, on Thursday in The Nest.

Playing just its fourth home game of the season and second home contest in the last six weeks, Sacramento State (4-10, 2-1 Big Sky) shot 59.3% in the first half to take an 11-point halftime lead and led by double figures for most of the second half to hand conference-leading North Dakota (10-5, 2-1 Big Sky) its first Big Sky loss of the year.

"We always love playing in The Nest and it was great to be back home," Sacramento State head coach Bunky Harkleroad said. "You've got to take care of business at home and it's a big win. North Dakota is a very well coached team and a very good team so we're pretty happy right now."

North Dakota entered the game leading the Big Sky in scoring margin at + 9.6 but never led in the game as the Hornets got off to a good start and never looked back. Sacramento State shot 15-of-19 (78.9%) through the first 15 minutes of the game and started 5-for-5 from 3-point range in a superb first half.

"We're doing a better job of moving the basketball and shooting shots we practice," Harkleroad said. "We passed the ball better, we cut harder, we did those little things that lead to more shots we practice. It was good execution and I'm very proud of that."

The Hornets led by as many as 14 points in the first half and, after the score was tied 2-2, led for the remainder of the contest. Sacramento State led 31-26 with 7:26 to play in the first half and then made its next four shots to go on a 10-0 run over the ensuing two minutes to go up 41-28.

North Dakota cut its deficit to five points with 10:35 left in the second half but could get no closer as a 7-0 Hornet run put the home team back up by 12. The Hornet lead reached a game-high 17 points at 80-63 with 6:52 left as they finished off the 93-86 win.

Sacramento State attempted a season-low 18 three-pointers in the game, 11 fewer than its previous season low of 29 three-point attempts, but shot a season-best 50% from beyond the arc in limited shots.

With five assists in the game Hornet senior point guard Fantasia Hilliard became just the fifth player in Big Sky history to surpass 600 career assists. Sophomore Hallie Gennett led Sacramento State with 18 points, hitting three 3-pointers and shooting 7-of-8 at the free throw line.

Senior Takara Burse totaled 17 points and four assists, sophomore Gretchen Harrigan had 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds, and sophomore Brianna Burgos made a career-best four 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 16 points

In the most physical games the Hornets have played this season each team got called for two technical fouls in the second half, with two against Hornet players, one against a UND player, and one against North Dakota head coach Travis Brewster.

The teams combined for 52 total fouls and 67 free throw attempts. Two North Dakota starters fouled out of the game, with one playing just 13 minutes. UND shot 25-of-35 at the line and the Hornets were 24-of-32, and the teams made the same number of field goals (30) but Sacramento State hit nine 3-pointers and North Dakota made just one shot in five attempts from behind the arc.

Sacramento State committed a season-low 10 turnovers in the game, including just three giveaways in the first half, and forced 21 UND turnovers to outscore the visitors 23-10 in points off turnovers. North Dakota had a 37-27 rebounding edge and outshot the Hornets 58.8% to 48.4% for the game but attempted 11 fewer shots.

UND had five players score in double figures led by 18 points and nine rebounds from Mia Loyd despite fouling out of the game. Makailah Dyer and Bailey Strand each scored 16 points for North Dakota, which had just 16 assists and four steals in the contest.

The Hornets improved to 3-1 this season on their home floor and will host Northern Colorado at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Bears are also 2-1 in Big Sky play after winning 68-54 at Portland State on Thursday.