California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Will Navarro
11/4/2022 12:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The CSUN women's basketball team begins the 2022-23 season with a road trip to Northern California that gets underway on Monday at the University of California. The trip concludes on Wednesday at No. 2 Stanford.
As the campaign gets ready to get underway, this is the first of a two-part preview of the Matadors. We begin with a look at CSUN's returning players.
Leading the Matadors will be graduate forward Tess Amundsen. Tess Amundsen was named to the 2022-23 All-Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Team on Oct. 20.
Amundsen was declared the 2021-22 NCAA Division I statistical champion for Three-Point Field Goal Percentage. Amundsen shot 49.1% from three-point range (56-for-114). Her top individual shooting game occurred on Feb. 19 when she went 5-for-6 at Cal State Fullerton. Amundsen scored a season-high 32 points at Long Beach State on Feb. 17 when she went 5-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc in the 62-57 overtime victory against The Beach.
A second-team All-Conference selection, Amundsen finished the season 142nd (250 ranked) in Division I in made three-point field goals per game (2.0) and 239th (250 ranked) in scoring (14.1). She paced the team in scoring, field goal shooting (47.3%, 138-292), and free throw shooting (89.9%, 62-69). Amundsen was second on the squad in rebounding (4.8). The Fresno native added 23 assists and 20 steals. She was 1-of-2 players (Jordyn Jackson being the other) to start all 28 games for the Matadors during the 2021-22 campaign.
COACH MITCHELL ON AMUNDSEN
"Tess is a coach on the court. She competes daily and makes everyone on the court better. She is one of the best shooters in the country. I am proud of her growth in the off-season."
Graduate guard Jordyn Jackson was selected 2022 honorable mention All-Conference.
The Moreno Valley native was 13th in the Big West in scoring at 11.9 points per game. She scored in double figures in 20 of the 28 games. Jackson led the team in assists (69) and field goal attempts (343). She was second on the team in made field goals (123), made three-point field goals (31), three-point field goal attempts (108), and steals (45) a year ago.
Jackson was fourth on the club in rebounding (3.0) and started all 28 games, increasing her consecutive start streak to 49 dating back to the 2019-20 season. Jackson is the Matador with the most experience in a CSUN uniform (90 games).
COACH MITCHELL ON JACKSON
"Jordyn can impact the game on both ends of the floor. She is a relentless defender and puts pressure on our opponents' defense with her ability to score at three levels."
Kayanna Spriggs was named to the 2022 Big West's All-Freshman team.
The 6-2 forward led team in rebounding at 5.3 per game and was 14th overall in the Big West. She averaged 5.6 points per game which was fifth on the team.
Spriggs shot 40.3% (50-124) from the floor, the third-best on the squad. She attempted a team-high 99 free throw attempts. Her 56 made free throws were third on the team. Spriggs blocked 11 shots, the second-most on the team, and made 19 steals. She started 23-of-28 games played.
COACH MITCHELL ON SPRIGGS
"Her ability to rebound demands respect. She is bringing a much calmer offensive approach through from the off-season. She is getting better every day."
Redshirt junior Olivia Smith appeared in 26-of-28 games last season and averaged 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-best six points against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 13. Smith grabbed a season-high four rebounds at Texas on Nov. 27. The 6-1 forward recorded seven steals and six assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON OLIVIA SMITH
"Liv is a versatile player that can guard multiple positions. She has a consistent mid-range game and brings energy to the court. Her role as a teammate is important."
Sophomore Michelle Duchemin appeared in 23 games, starting four times a year ago. She averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Duchemin scored in double figures three times including a season-high 12 against Antelope Valley on Dec. 21. The 6-0 Encino native grabbed a season-high seven rebounds at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 19. She made 22 steals and posted 13 assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON DUCHEMIN
"Michelle is the most improved player when it comes to her mental approach to the game. Her athletic ability and work ethic will have a major impact on our team."
Redshirt sophomore Rachel Harvey played in all 28 games, starting nine times as a freshman. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. Harvey scored a season-best 11 points at Texas on Nov. 27...The San Francisco native was fourth on the team in field goal shooting (38%, 27-70). An Academic All-Conference selection, Harvey made 28 steals, the fifth-most on the team, and added 17 assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON HARVEY
"Rachel is the ultimate teammate on and off the court. She is a competitor and has the willingness to always do what is asked of her."
Redshirt sophomore Anaiyah Tu'ua finished 2021-22 second on the squad in assists (66) and three-point shooting (33.3%, 19-57). She was third in steals (36) and made field goals (57). Tu'ua averaged 5.9 points per game, the fourth-best on the team. An Academic All-Conference selection, she scored in double figures six times including a season-best 15 against San Diego on Dec. 5.
COACH MITCHELL ON TU'UA
"Our team will go as Anaiyah goes. She has a high basketball IQ who knows our system by detail and is an extension of me on the court. She is an elite point guard."
The final returning letterwinner is sophomore Macy Smith. Smith appeared in 22 games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. She made 17 three-point field goals, the fifth-most on the team. The Minnesota native scored a season-high 20 points at Hawai'i in the regular season finale on Mar. 3, 2022. Smith posted six assists, five steals, and one block.
COACH MITCHELL ON MACY SMITH
"Macy had a great Summer. She has expanded her game to the next phase. She provides us with another option."
As the campaign gets ready to get underway, this is the first of a two-part preview of the Matadors. We begin with a look at CSUN's returning players.
Leading the Matadors will be graduate forward Tess Amundsen. Tess Amundsen was named to the 2022-23 All-Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Team on Oct. 20.
Amundsen was declared the 2021-22 NCAA Division I statistical champion for Three-Point Field Goal Percentage. Amundsen shot 49.1% from three-point range (56-for-114). Her top individual shooting game occurred on Feb. 19 when she went 5-for-6 at Cal State Fullerton. Amundsen scored a season-high 32 points at Long Beach State on Feb. 17 when she went 5-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc in the 62-57 overtime victory against The Beach.
A second-team All-Conference selection, Amundsen finished the season 142nd (250 ranked) in Division I in made three-point field goals per game (2.0) and 239th (250 ranked) in scoring (14.1). She paced the team in scoring, field goal shooting (47.3%, 138-292), and free throw shooting (89.9%, 62-69). Amundsen was second on the squad in rebounding (4.8). The Fresno native added 23 assists and 20 steals. She was 1-of-2 players (Jordyn Jackson being the other) to start all 28 games for the Matadors during the 2021-22 campaign.
COACH MITCHELL ON AMUNDSEN
"Tess is a coach on the court. She competes daily and makes everyone on the court better. She is one of the best shooters in the country. I am proud of her growth in the off-season."
Graduate guard Jordyn Jackson was selected 2022 honorable mention All-Conference.
The Moreno Valley native was 13th in the Big West in scoring at 11.9 points per game. She scored in double figures in 20 of the 28 games. Jackson led the team in assists (69) and field goal attempts (343). She was second on the team in made field goals (123), made three-point field goals (31), three-point field goal attempts (108), and steals (45) a year ago.
Jackson was fourth on the club in rebounding (3.0) and started all 28 games, increasing her consecutive start streak to 49 dating back to the 2019-20 season. Jackson is the Matador with the most experience in a CSUN uniform (90 games).
COACH MITCHELL ON JACKSON
"Jordyn can impact the game on both ends of the floor. She is a relentless defender and puts pressure on our opponents' defense with her ability to score at three levels."
Kayanna Spriggs was named to the 2022 Big West's All-Freshman team.
The 6-2 forward led team in rebounding at 5.3 per game and was 14th overall in the Big West. She averaged 5.6 points per game which was fifth on the team.
Spriggs shot 40.3% (50-124) from the floor, the third-best on the squad. She attempted a team-high 99 free throw attempts. Her 56 made free throws were third on the team. Spriggs blocked 11 shots, the second-most on the team, and made 19 steals. She started 23-of-28 games played.
COACH MITCHELL ON SPRIGGS
"Her ability to rebound demands respect. She is bringing a much calmer offensive approach through from the off-season. She is getting better every day."
Redshirt junior Olivia Smith appeared in 26-of-28 games last season and averaged 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. She recorded a season-best six points against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 13. Smith grabbed a season-high four rebounds at Texas on Nov. 27. The 6-1 forward recorded seven steals and six assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON OLIVIA SMITH
"Liv is a versatile player that can guard multiple positions. She has a consistent mid-range game and brings energy to the court. Her role as a teammate is important."
Sophomore Michelle Duchemin appeared in 23 games, starting four times a year ago. She averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Duchemin scored in double figures three times including a season-high 12 against Antelope Valley on Dec. 21. The 6-0 Encino native grabbed a season-high seven rebounds at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 19. She made 22 steals and posted 13 assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON DUCHEMIN
"Michelle is the most improved player when it comes to her mental approach to the game. Her athletic ability and work ethic will have a major impact on our team."
Redshirt sophomore Rachel Harvey played in all 28 games, starting nine times as a freshman. She averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. Harvey scored a season-best 11 points at Texas on Nov. 27...The San Francisco native was fourth on the team in field goal shooting (38%, 27-70). An Academic All-Conference selection, Harvey made 28 steals, the fifth-most on the team, and added 17 assists.
COACH MITCHELL ON HARVEY
"Rachel is the ultimate teammate on and off the court. She is a competitor and has the willingness to always do what is asked of her."
Redshirt sophomore Anaiyah Tu'ua finished 2021-22 second on the squad in assists (66) and three-point shooting (33.3%, 19-57). She was third in steals (36) and made field goals (57). Tu'ua averaged 5.9 points per game, the fourth-best on the team. An Academic All-Conference selection, she scored in double figures six times including a season-best 15 against San Diego on Dec. 5.
COACH MITCHELL ON TU'UA
"Our team will go as Anaiyah goes. She has a high basketball IQ who knows our system by detail and is an extension of me on the court. She is an elite point guard."
The final returning letterwinner is sophomore Macy Smith. Smith appeared in 22 games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. She made 17 three-point field goals, the fifth-most on the team. The Minnesota native scored a season-high 20 points at Hawai'i in the regular season finale on Mar. 3, 2022. Smith posted six assists, five steals, and one block.
COACH MITCHELL ON MACY SMITH
"Macy had a great Summer. She has expanded her game to the next phase. She provides us with another option."
~#UniteTheValley~
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