Matadors Head Down South to San Diego for Non-Conference Game

Game Notes
NORTHRIDGE, Calif --- CSUN Women's Basketball (2-7, 0-2 Big West) is traveling down south for a matchup against the University of San Diego Toreros (3-5, 0-0 WCC), Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+

EARLIER THIS WEEK
The Matadors lost a heartbreaker to California Baptist University, 73-71, Wednesday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena. CSUN overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 71 apiece with 10 seconds left, but the Lancers hit a turnaround jump shot at the buzzer to narrowly beat the Matadors. Morgan Edwards led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, 12 of which scored in the fourth quarter alone. Kelly Tumlin and Yves Cox both scored in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively.

Both teams came out swinging from deep early on, as 22 three-point shots were attempted in the first quarter alone. It was blow for blow as the Matadors knocked down five from distance only to be matched by CBU's seven made threes. CSUN got the early lead from a Tumlin three pointer to make it 8-3 with 6:32 left.

After a former Matador Anaiyah Tu'ua three gained the lead for the Lancers at 9-8 at the 5:39 mark, CSUN quickly regained the lead via a Jenny Kilty shot from behind the arc. That would be the last CSUN lead of the quarter as California Baptist got on a shooting streak. Nhug Bosch Duran from the Lancers drained three from deep in the quarter as the score read 28-21 at the end of the period.

Scoring was way down in the second period. After a combined 49 points in the first, defense was the story in the second, as only 20 points were scored between both teams.

To start the third, both teams were trading buckets, until the Lancers would go on their biggest run of the night 17-4, which would result in the score being 60-46. Tumlin also hit a half-court buzzer beating three-point shot to send some momentum in the Matadors' direction.

In the fourth quarter, CSUN played perhaps its best quarter of the young season. The Matadors overcame the 17 point lead by the Lancers with some impressive gameplay. Edwards got fouled on a three-point made shot. The junior hit the free throw from the charity stripe to cut the lead to 10 with 3:13 left to play. In the next possession, Edwards again got fouled on another made shot, this time a driving layup. She would go on to make the free throw to cut the lead to seven with 2:48 left to go.

CSUN kept chipping away, as Edwards hit a shot from distance to get the lead to only two with just under a minute left to play. With 24 seconds left, CSUN called a timeout and drew up a play for Cox. She got a layup to tie the game with 10 seconds to go. In the final possession, CSUN played stellar defense but ultimately a bank shot from Anaiyah Tu'ua was the dagger to end the game in favor of the Lancers, 73-71.

LONG DISTANCE CALLS
CSUN currently ranks third in the Big West with 7.1 threes per contest. Four Matador players have double-digit threes on the year. Kilty has 15, Tumlin has 14, Edwards has 12, and freshman Karsen Marshall has 10. Eight out of 12 Matador players have knocked down a shot from behind the arc this season. Kilty also leads the squad in three point percentage with 42.9%.

MATADORS ON THE BOARDS

CSUN currently ranks third in the Big West with 36.4 rebounds per game. Cox, a freshman, leads the team with 54 rebounds on the year as she is averaging six a game. Adams isn't too far behind either, the senior has 50 on the season as she is averaging 5.5 a game. Tumlin is next with 33 rebounds on the campaign.

EDWARDS EMBODIES CONSISTENCY

Morgan Edwards is currently having her best collegiate season in her junior year and first with the Matadors. After dropping a career-high 22 points against California Baptist, she is now leading the team with 8.9 PPG. She has also started and played in all nine games this season. In addition, Edwards is third on the team in three pointers and leads the squad in three point percentage with 48%.

SCOUTING UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
The Toreros head into Saturday's contest with a 3-5 record on the season. Like the Matadors, USD beat the La Sierra Golden Eagles on Dec. 5. The other two victories came against Biola and Weber State, USD's first two games of the season. The Toreros have put out the same starting five for all of its eight games so far.

USD is led by senior Kylie Horstmeyer who is averaging 12.9 PPG. She is followed by fellow senior Truitt Reilly who is scoring 10.6 PPG through eight games.

CSUN will have to watch out for rebounds as USD is currently third in the WCC in boards per game with 39.6. The Matadors will have to also watch out for the inside game. The Toreros don't shoot many shots from distance. They are currently last in the conference in three point field goals per contest, only averaging 2.8 a game.

Series History: Saturday afternoon's game against the Toreros will be the 24th ever meeting between the programs with San Diego holding a 19-4 overall advantage. USD has won 12 straight matchups against CSUN, as the two teams met last season in Northridge with USD earning the 85-61 victory at Premier America Credit Union Arena.

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Matadors Head Down South to San Diego for Non-Conference Game

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Players Mentioned

Yves Cox

Morgan Edwards

Karsen Marshall

Kelly Tumlin