Thursday, November 9
Northridge, Calif.
6:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
2-0,0-0Big West
81
vs
72
Seattle University
0-1,0-0WAC
1
2
3
4
OT 1
F
Seattle U
24
13
14
15
6
72
CSUN
8
13
22
23
15
81
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Wins Thriller in Overtime to Complete Comeback Over Seattle U
11/9/2023 9:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Basketball overcame an early 18-point deficit to beat Seattle U in overtime 81-72 on Thursday at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Kaitlyn Elsholz scored 22 points to go with seven rebounds while Talo Li-Uperesa had 14 points and six rebounds. Kayanna Spriggs scored 13 including hitting a game-tying three at the end of regulation. CSUN has posted its first 2-0 start since the 2014-15 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redhawks completed a 10-0 run to start the game. The Matadors' first field goal would be a layup by Talo Li-Uperesa at the 4:58 mark of the first quarter. CSUN trailed by as many as 18 points in the first quarter (20-2) before fighting back to within 24-8 at the end of the period. The Matadors opened the second quarter with a hook shot from Arina Nikishina before eventually pulling to within 24-12. The Matadors flew through the Redhawks defense as they made a run of seven-straight points to cut the lead to 27-19 on a Kayanna Spriggs layup. Seattle U would hit two-straight 3-pointers before building a 37-21 lead at halftime.
The Matadors trimmed the deficit to 43-29 on a three-point play from Li-Uperesa with 6:52 left in the third period before both teams were held in a deadlock for nearly two minutes. The Matadors refused to fold as they kept fighting, eventually cutting an 18-point lead to 10 on a Kaitlyn Elsholz three. CSUN closed the third quarter with four consecutive points as a Laney Amundsen basket pulled CSUN to within 51-43. The Matadors returned strong out of the break with a 6-0 run to close the gap to 51-49. Down the stretch, Seattle U built a 60-52 lead before six-straight from CSUN. Elsholz then cut the lead to 62-61 on a three with 15 seconds left.
Seattle U went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the late seconds but CSUN had the ball down 66-63 with 1.7 seconds remaining. Amundsen in-bounded the ball and found Spriggs in the front court. Spriggs would corral the pass, launch a three and find the net as the horn sounded to send the game to overtime.
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CSUN would take its first lead of the game in first possession of overtime and never look back. Elsholz nailed another three followed by a Spriggs basket for a five-point lead at 73-68. The Matadors made six free throws in the final minute to secure a win.
NOTES OF THE GAME
"Everyone will tell you that I don't get too high, I don't get too low. I've been to a lot of basketball games where people have dug big holes and found a way to come back and win. I think it just shows the resiliency, the fight, that this group has.
"This game we got different scoring, different things from different players. It was a total group effort. They should be super confident in themselves. That's where it starts first."
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UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road to face Santa Clara next on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redhawks completed a 10-0 run to start the game. The Matadors' first field goal would be a layup by Talo Li-Uperesa at the 4:58 mark of the first quarter. CSUN trailed by as many as 18 points in the first quarter (20-2) before fighting back to within 24-8 at the end of the period. The Matadors opened the second quarter with a hook shot from Arina Nikishina before eventually pulling to within 24-12. The Matadors flew through the Redhawks defense as they made a run of seven-straight points to cut the lead to 27-19 on a Kayanna Spriggs layup. Seattle U would hit two-straight 3-pointers before building a 37-21 lead at halftime.
The Matadors trimmed the deficit to 43-29 on a three-point play from Li-Uperesa with 6:52 left in the third period before both teams were held in a deadlock for nearly two minutes. The Matadors refused to fold as they kept fighting, eventually cutting an 18-point lead to 10 on a Kaitlyn Elsholz three. CSUN closed the third quarter with four consecutive points as a Laney Amundsen basket pulled CSUN to within 51-43. The Matadors returned strong out of the break with a 6-0 run to close the gap to 51-49. Down the stretch, Seattle U built a 60-52 lead before six-straight from CSUN. Elsholz then cut the lead to 62-61 on a three with 15 seconds left.
Seattle U went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the late seconds but CSUN had the ball down 66-63 with 1.7 seconds remaining. Amundsen in-bounded the ball and found Spriggs in the front court. Spriggs would corral the pass, launch a three and find the net as the horn sounded to send the game to overtime.
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KAYANNA SPRIGGS TIES IT AT THE BUZZER! ????
— CSUN Women's Basketball (@CSUNWBB) November 10, 2023
After trailing by as many as 18, CSUN sends it to overtime.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/3RHba7ZybD
CSUN would take its first lead of the game in first possession of overtime and never look back. Elsholz nailed another three followed by a Spriggs basket for a five-point lead at 73-68. The Matadors made six free throws in the final minute to secure a win.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- The Matadors shot 35.9 percent for the game while the Redhawks finished at 39.4 percent.
- CSUN made 5-of-30 from three (16.7 percent) and 20-of-26 (76.9 percent) at the free throw line compared to Seattle U which made 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) and 14-of-17 at the free throw line (82.4 percent).
- Each team had 36 points in the paint.
- The buzzer beater shot made at the end of the fourth by Kayanna Spriggs was the first three-pointer in her career at CSUN.
- Freshman Kaitlyn Elsholz led the Matadors in threes (3-of-9) while she tied Laney Amundsen for the team lead in rebounds (8).
- Erica Adams added 13 points and six rebounds in 38 minutes.
"Everyone will tell you that I don't get too high, I don't get too low. I've been to a lot of basketball games where people have dug big holes and found a way to come back and win. I think it just shows the resiliency, the fight, that this group has.
"This game we got different scoring, different things from different players. It was a total group effort. They should be super confident in themselves. That's where it starts first."
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Hear from HC @CoachCMitchell after CSUN's massive comeback win.
— CSUN Women's Basketball (@CSUNWBB) November 10, 2023
??????#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/z2Y4Ixa8vu
UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road to face Santa Clara next on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
SU
CSUN
FG%
.394
.359
3FG%
.231
.167
FT%
.824
.769
RB
51
43
TO
33
22
STL
17
16
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballF
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