CSUN Defeats League Leader Long Beach 64-50

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN handed Big West leader Long Beach State a 64-50 defeat in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Matadome.

FIRST HALF
An evenly played first quarter saw Ma'Qahi Berry tie the score at 12 with nine seconds remaining. The Matadors quickly dribbled up the court where Ashley Hawkins' heave at the buzzer went in for a 15-12 CSUN advantage.

Justina King knotted the score at 15 with a three-pointer 31 seconds into the second frame. Sydney Woodley made three consecutive steals that resulted in three straight fast-break layups. Woodley's efforts keyed a 16-0 run that saw CSUN keep The Beach off the scoreboard for almost nine minutes. King's three-point play just before half sent Long Beach State into the break trailing 31-18.

Woodley made five of the nine CSUN steals in the first half and scored eight points over the opening 20 minutes. CSUN limited Long Beach State to two field goals in the second quarter and 7-of-28 shooting for the half. The Beach stayed in the game by forcing 13 first half Matador turnovers and recorded seven steals.

SECOND HALF
The Beach chipped away at the CSUN lead, cutting it to 33-22 on a pair of Jasmine Hardy free throws. Jordyn Jackson scored five of the next seven Matadors' points as the lead quickly pushed back out to 16. The Beach again battled back, getting the score to 44-34 when Maddi Utti connected on a pair of free throws to end the third quarter. Tess Amundsen scored five consecutive points to begin the fourth quarter for CSUN to increase the lead back to 15. The closest Long Beach State would get would be 13 in the final 10 minutes as Jackson posted five points in the final 2:08 to secure the victory.

ACCORDING TO INTERIM HEAD COACH CARLENE MITCHELL
"This was a great recovery from the Cal State Fullerton game Thursday night. Defensively we did a good job of switching and we were able to finish things off with our rebounding. I thought we took care of the ball at the right times. You always take a win with 21 turnovers. Tess can score both inside and out and she is willing to mix it up inside. Sydney has the instinct for the ball and her length has a lot to do with her success. She plays in the passing lanes, and she understands that is an easy way to get some easy baskets in transition. It was a collective effort, and I am extremely proud. We have to be consistent with our young group, but the sky is the limit."

THE NUMBERS
CSUN held Long Beach State to 29.1% shooting for the game (17-of-58), 12.5% from three-point range (3-of-24). The Matadors shot 47.1% from the floor (24-of-51). CSUN outrebounded Long Beach State 39-34. The Beach forced 21 Matadors' turnovers and ended the game with 10 steals. CSUN made 14 steals as Long Beach State made 16 turnovers.

Jackson paced the Matadors with 16 points. Amundsen recorded her first double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kayanna Spriggs added a season-high 11 points. Woodley scored eight points, recorded seven steals, two assists, and two rebounds. Utti's double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds led Long Beach State (10-1, 3-1 Big West).

UP NEXT
CSUN (6-7, 2-1 Big West) travels to UC Riverside (3-6, 0-2 Big West) Thursday night. The tip is set for 6 p.m. with coverage on ESPN+.

NOTES
Saturday marked the 50th head coaching victory of Carlene Mitchell's career…Mitchell is 50-89 overall in her fifth year as a head coach…Saturday was the second consecutive game in which Woodley made seven steals…Woodley's performances are the most in a game by a CSUN player since current Matador assistant coach Ashlee Guay made seven steals for CSUN against UC Davis on Feb. 16, 2013…Saturday marked the 10th time in 13 games in which the Matadors have made at least 10 steals.

Players Mentioned

Tess Amundsen

Ashley Hawkins

Jordyn Jackson

Kayanna Spriggs

Sydney Woodley