Monday, November 6
Northridge, Calif.
6:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
1-0,0-0Big West
79
vs
64
Utah State
0-1,0-0Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
Utah St.
16
10
20
18
64
CSUN
21
22
13
23
79
Photo by: Connor Clark
Four Matadors in Double Figures, CSUN Tops Utah State on Opening Night
11/6/2023 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Basketball had four score in double figures in a 79-64 victory over Utah State on opening night Monday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. The Matadors were led by a pair of freshmen off the bench as Amiyah Ferguson and Kaitlyn Elsholz scored 18 points apiece. Erica Adams added 17 points while Laney Amundsen had 10 points and seven rebounds.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a back-and-forth first five minutes of action, CSUN gained some separation with a pair of threes from Kaitlyn Elsholz and Amiyah Ferguson to build an 18-12 lead. The Matadors would lean on the three in the first period, making 5-of-12 from long range as Furguson sank another 3-pointer at the 1:31 mark to push the lead to seven. The Aggies though closed the quarter with a late bucket to trim the CSUN lead to five through 10 minutes. CSUN stretched its lead to nine early in the second period before going on a 10-0 run, closed by a layup from Elsholz for a 41-22 lead. While the Matadors would go cold from three in the second period (0-for-7), CSUN managed to shoot 44 percent in the quarter to help take a 43-26 lead into halftime.
Â
CSUN missed its first five field goals to begin the third quarter but would manage to build a 20-point lead on a basket from Talo Li-Uperesa. The Matadors maintained a 50-33 lead before the Aggies chipped away with an 11-4 spurt. Erica Adams gave the Matadors a 12-point lead on a hoop with 15 seconds left in the third quarter, but Utah State received a buzzer beater from Bridget Mullings to pull her team to within 56-46 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Matadors would turn to the defensive end to start the fourth quarter, forcing a pair of steals leading to buckets on the other end. During an 8-2 run, Arina Nikishina would pick up a steal before leading the break and finding Elsholz for a corner three.
Â
The Aggies pulled to within 12 points with five minutes to play but the Matadors would not led the visitors get any closer. Laney Amundsen soon hit a 3-pointer then Elsholz added a jumper as CSUN led by as many as 17 points down the stretch.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO CARLENE MITCHELL
"We knew recruiting [Amiyah Ferguson and Kaitlyn Elsholz] that they were impact players for our program. They are both competitors first and foremost outside of being great basketball players. They can score in a variety of ways and they're a lot of fun for our fans to watch.
I think we have the personality this year that our players want to get up and they want to get after it. They have some quickness on the defensive end of things and that's probably what will keep us in a lot of games with the defensive intensity."
Â
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home for a match-up with Seattle U on Thursday at 6 p.m. Jill Painter Lopez will call the action on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a back-and-forth first five minutes of action, CSUN gained some separation with a pair of threes from Kaitlyn Elsholz and Amiyah Ferguson to build an 18-12 lead. The Matadors would lean on the three in the first period, making 5-of-12 from long range as Furguson sank another 3-pointer at the 1:31 mark to push the lead to seven. The Aggies though closed the quarter with a late bucket to trim the CSUN lead to five through 10 minutes. CSUN stretched its lead to nine early in the second period before going on a 10-0 run, closed by a layup from Elsholz for a 41-22 lead. While the Matadors would go cold from three in the second period (0-for-7), CSUN managed to shoot 44 percent in the quarter to help take a 43-26 lead into halftime.
Â
Welcome to college basketball, Amiyah Ferguson!
— CSUN Women's Basketball (@CSUNWBB) November 7, 2023
That's 3? three-pointers in the first quarter.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/OmSqbExUda
CSUN missed its first five field goals to begin the third quarter but would manage to build a 20-point lead on a basket from Talo Li-Uperesa. The Matadors maintained a 50-33 lead before the Aggies chipped away with an 11-4 spurt. Erica Adams gave the Matadors a 12-point lead on a hoop with 15 seconds left in the third quarter, but Utah State received a buzzer beater from Bridget Mullings to pull her team to within 56-46 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Matadors would turn to the defensive end to start the fourth quarter, forcing a pair of steals leading to buckets on the other end. During an 8-2 run, Arina Nikishina would pick up a steal before leading the break and finding Elsholz for a corner three.
Â
Scoring so quickly we almost missed the second bucket ??
— CSUN Women's Basketball (@CSUNWBB) November 7, 2023
Kaitlyn Elsholz is up to 16 points (6-12 FG) to give CSUN a 16-point lead.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/OesBzgUscg
The Aggies pulled to within 12 points with five minutes to play but the Matadors would not led the visitors get any closer. Laney Amundsen soon hit a 3-pointer then Elsholz added a jumper as CSUN led by as many as 17 points down the stretch.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN shot 42.6 percent from the floor while finishing 9-of-31 from three (29.0 percent) and 12-of-20 from the free throw line (60.0 percent). Utah State shot 41.7 percent for the game but went 0-for-14 from 3-point range. The Aggies also made 14-of-25 from the free throw line (56.0 percent).
- The Aggies led in rebounds 43-39 but CSUN held a 17-10 edge in assists and 14-11 advantage in steals.
- CSUN's bench scored 40 points on the night compared to Utah State's 36.
- Freshman Amiyah Ferguson added six assists, two steals and three rebounds to go with her 18 points.
- Fellow freshman Kaitlyn Elsholz made 7-of-15 from the field while picking up five steals.
ACCORDING TO CARLENE MITCHELL
"We knew recruiting [Amiyah Ferguson and Kaitlyn Elsholz] that they were impact players for our program. They are both competitors first and foremost outside of being great basketball players. They can score in a variety of ways and they're a lot of fun for our fans to watch.
I think we have the personality this year that our players want to get up and they want to get after it. They have some quickness on the defensive end of things and that's probably what will keep us in a lot of games with the defensive intensity."
Â
"We knew recruiting [Amiyah Ferguson and Kaitlyn Elsholz] that they were impact players for our program. They're just both competitors." - HC @CoachCMitchell #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/YGXF0pFlLj
— CSUN Women's Basketball (@CSUNWBB) November 7, 2023
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home for a match-up with Seattle U on Thursday at 6 p.m. Jill Painter Lopez will call the action on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
USU
CSUN
FG%
.417
.426
3FG%
.000
.290
FT%
.560
.600
RB
43
39
TO
23
17
STL
11
14
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballCSUN-UCSD Highlights
Monday, February 20
WBB-San Diego State at CSUN
Sunday, December 09
Women's Basketball-Loyola Marymount at CSUN
Friday, December 07
Women's Basketball-California Baptist at CSUN
Wednesday, November 28