CSUN Falls Just Short at Fullerton

FULLERTON, Calif.---CSUN Women's Basketball fell to Cal State Fullerton in Titan Gym by the final score of 68-62 on Saturday. Kayanna Spriggs led the team with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Two more Matadors scored in double digits: Talo Li-Uperesa with 15 and Rachel Harvey with 10.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors opened the game with a layup by Kayanna Spriggs. She was followed by Rachel Harvey, who made two layups, pushing the Matadors' lead to 6-0. The Titans collected a layup, but CSUN continued undisturbed as Laney Amundsen hit a jumper. Ana Carolina De Jesus kept the momentum going for the Matadors with a jumper, putting CSUN ahead 10-2. Harvey struck again to increase the lead to 12-2. The Titans picked up a pair of threes, but the Matadors lead after the first quarter, 14-8.

The Matadors continued to control the court in the second quarter as Amiyah Ferguson made a layup followed by a free throw. The Titans fired back with their own basket, but Spriggs returned the favor with two layups plus a free throw. After Talo Li-Uperesa made a layup, the Matadors took a 24-14 lead. The Titans though went on a 7-0 run to close the distance to 25-21. The Titans hit a pair of late jumpers, but Ferguson closed the half with a layup to increase the lead to 29-26.

CSF opened the third quarter with a basket, but Erica Adams responded for CSUN with a layup. Li-Uperesa followed with her own layup to help the Matadors pull off a 6-0 run. The Titans though refused to fold as they went on an 18-2 run, taking the lead from the Matadors. The quarter would close with the Matadors trailing 49-39.

In the fourth quarter, Fullerton started strong, scoring the first shot. The Matadors were quick to return the basket with a layup by Spriggs. Harvey and Li-Uperesa continued CSUN's momentum as they brought CSUN closer to 52-45. Li-Uperesa scored nine more points on her own with Spriggs also making baskets down the stretch. Despite late shots from Amundsen and Adams, CSUN could not catch Fullerton in the closing moments.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 2-13 overall and 0-5 in Big West while Fullerton improves to 6-9 overall and 2-3 in conference.
The Matadors outscored Cal State Fullerton in the first and fourth quarters.
Rachel Harvey scored a season-high 10 points along with four free throws made and 29 minutes played.
The Titans led in bench points, 21-9, but the Matadors dominated in points in the paint, 42-18.
The score was tied three times, all in the third quarter.
CSUN had a higher field goal percentage, 41.4% to the Titans' 38.6%

ACCORDING TO COACH CARLENE MITCHELL
"It's just consistency, with the lineup, with injuries, with minutes played, but I think tonight our experienced players, our upperclassmen-Rachel Harvey stepped up and played a lot of minutes for us. It was a short bench, that was my decision, but I think our starters set the tone. We definitely have improved on that side of it, and not given up and not let other teams go on big runs."

UP NEXT
CSUN continues its road stretch with a game against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Falls Just Short at Fullerton

Players Mentioned

Erica Adams

Laney Amundsen

Ana Carolina De Jesus

Amiyah Ferguson

Rachel Harvey

Talo Li-Uperesa

Kayanna Spriggs