Turnovers Doom CSUN In 69-58 Loss To UC Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—UC Riverside turned 24 CSUN turnovers into 22 points as the Highlanders defeated the Matadors 69-58 Thursday night in Big West Conference women's basketball.

"Any time we have struggled this season, we have turned over the basketball," said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers. "24 turnovers that lead to 22 points will tell you everything you need to know."

CSUN committed 12 turnovers in the first quarter, missed 10-of-13 field goal attempts and trailed UC Riverside 20-7. The Matadors connected on five of their first six second quarter shots to pull to within seven, 25-18 at the 6:29 mark. The Highlanders called timeout. A Claudia Ramos three-pointer further reduced the deficit to four. Terrin Sullivan made it a 25-23 game with a layup. The run would end at 16-7 when Jayln Clay made a layup. Hayley Tanabe's third three-pointer of the opening half reduced the UCR lead to 27-26.

On the ensuing CSUN possession, Tessa Boagni was fouled in the act of making a layup. She completed the three-point play to earn CSUN their first lead of the game 29-27 at 2:35. After drawing a foul on the Matadors. Skylar Lewis scored to tie the game. CSUN committed only three turnovers in the second, shooting 52.9% (9-of-17) from the field as the game remained tied at 29 heading into the break.

The turnover bug bit the Matadors again in the third quarter. Four CSUN turnovers helped the Highlanders to a 40-33 advantage midway through the frame. The Matadors reduced the UCR lead to three at one point later in the third, however the Highlanders used a Lewis three-point play to kick start an 8-2 spurt that saw UC Riverside lead 50-41 after 30 minutes.

Tanabe cut the UCR lead to 56-49 with her fourth three-pointer of the game midway through the fourth quarter. That would be as close as the Matadors would come. Lauren Holt was fouled on a three-point attempt. She made all three free throw attempts to put UCR back into a double-digit lead for good. A Holt three-pointer extended the lead to 62-49 and the Highlanders never looked back. CSUN would score three points over the final 5:18 as UC Riverside took the victory.

UC Riverside (8-18, 5-7 Big West) committed only eight turnovers against 22 assists in the game. UCR held the Matadors to 37.9% shooting (22-of-58) as the Highlanders were 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field. CSUN outrebounded UC Riverside 48-29 (16-7 offensive).

"We have to value the basketball," Flowers said. "I have to find a better way of instilling that to our team over the next couple of weeks."

Lauren Holt led UC Riverside with 21 points. Lewis scored 13 while Jannon Otto and Michelle Curry both had 11. Tanabe scored 15 points to pace the Matadors. Fluker recorded her 49th career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Boagni scored nine points and had 12 rebounds.
The Matadors (13-13, 6-6 Big West) return home Saturday to host Cal Poly (14-10, 8-4 Big West). Eric Kaback's pre-game show on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health begins at 3:55 p.m. The video stream begins at tip, 4 p.m.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Hayley Tanabe

Channon Fluker

Tessa Boagni

Terrin Sullivan

Players Mentioned

Tessa Boagni

Claudia Ramos

Terrin Sullivan

Hayley Tanabe