MISSOULA, Mont. – Summer Menke had a chance to tie the game as time expired Saturday, but her three-point attempt came up just left and the Hornets came up just short against Montana, 66-63, Saturday morning.

Menke recorded her fourth double-double of the season in the loss and Jazzy Carrasco set a career-high with 18 points.

The loss is Sacramento State's 11th of the season as the team falls to 0-11 overall and 0-8 in Big Sky play. Montana improves to 7-4 overall and 4-2 against the league.

Sacramento State and Montana traded leads four times Saturday and found themselves tied on five other occasions. The two teams were even, 17-17, after the first quarter, before a quiet second quarter sent the Hornets into the half trailing, 34-25.

The Hornets chipped their way back into competition, cutting the deficit to just seven, 51-44, by the end of the third quarter. They tied the game and took back the lead for the first time since the first quarter just minutes into the fourth on Carrasco free throws.

Montana refused to go away, though, pulling away, 63-56, before the Hornets went on a 7-0 run to tie the game with just under a minute left. It was Carrasco, again, coming up with the big shot for the Hornets.

Ultimately, the Lady Griz fended off Sacramento State's late push, holding on to a 66-63 win. Menke, the Hornets' leading scorer this season, had the ball for the team's last possession, but her three-point attempt hit the left side of the rim and bounced out as time expired.

Carrasco and Menke led the way for the Hornets on Saturday. Making her first start of the season, Carrasco finished with a career-best 18 points on 4-for-9 shooting. All her baskets came from beyond the arc, where she was 4-of-6. For the season, Carrasco is now shooting a team-best 44.4% from three (12-27).

She added six free throws, going 6-for-6. Carrasco has been perfect from the free throw line this season, where she is 11-for-11 in seven games.

Menke finished just behind her fellow junior guard, scoring 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting, including 2-for-5 from beyond the arc. Menke was also perfect from the free throw line, going 3-for-3.

The Scottsdale, Ariz. native led all players on Saturday with 10 rebounds. The double-double was Menke's fourth of the season, tied for second most among Big Sky players this season. She leads the team this year in both scoring (13.8 pts) and rebounding (7.5 reb).

Emily Enochs was having a good game for the Hornets, as well, before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury. The junior guard had 11 points on an excellent 5-for-7 shooting, but left the game after a Montana player, chasing a rebound, inadvertently stepped down on her ankle.

Despite the strong performance by the trio of guards, Sacramento State was unable to take one on the road from the Montana Lady Griz. On Saturday, the Hornets shot 33.9% overall, just behind the Lady Griz at 34.3%. although trailing overall, Sacramento State dominated from beyond the arc. Montana was just 1-for-13 (7.7%) from distance compared to Sacramento State's 10-for-28 performance (35.7%).

Opponent free throws again proved costly for the Hornets as Montana went 19-for-24 at the free throw line. Sacramento State was just 11-for-17 at the stipe. Similarly, Montana was in control on the boards, collecting 51 rebounds compared to Sacramento State's 39. The rebound disparity turned into a 44-22 Montana advantage on points in the paint.

Saturday's game in Missoula was the Hornets' second and final contest against Montana this season as the Lady Griz swept the weekend series. The Hornets remain winless on the road and on the season.

Sacramento State will return home for its next games, a two-game set in the Nest against the visiting Eastern Washington Eagles. That series will start Thursday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. and continue with a Saturday, Jan. 30 matinee at noon. As always, both games will stream live online on Pluto.TV, ch. 1052, with live stats available at HornetStats.com.

For more information and other content on Sacramento State women's basketball, be sure to visit the Hornet women's basketball homepage online at HornetSports.com.