Matadors Drop Big West Home Opener to Cal Poly

NORTHRIDGE, Calif - CSUN Women's Basketball (2-6, 0-2 Big West) fell 58-44 to the Cal Poly Mustangs Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Senior Erica Adams and junior Morgan Edwards led the Matadors in scoring as each had 11. Alondra Lizama got her career high with seven points. Yves Cox added seven points as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams traded buckets as it was a see-saw game in the early going. CSUN got its first lead, 8-7 at the 5:43 mark. After a Cal Poly three and a layup from Kayla Hopson that saw the score tied at 10, the Mustangs ended the quarter on a 8-0 run. The scoreboard read 18-10 heading into the second quarter. Five different CSUN players accounted for the team's 10 points.

Turnovers were the story early as both teams played good defense. Cal Poly forced nine turnovers while CSUN forced seven in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Annika Shaw of the Mustangs got the scoring going with a three-pointer at the 8:48 mark. Yves Cox would hit a layup to counter before the Mustangs drained another three, this time from Nona Perez. Cal Poly would drain another shot from distance with 7:05 remaining in the period which upped its lead to 15 at 27-12. A couple layups from Lizama got the score to 29-16 at the 5:22 mark. Defense would be story for the rest of the second as both teams didn't score until there was 2:58 remaining, as Cal Poly's Sierra Lichtie drove in for a layup. CSUN would add three more points as the score was 31-19 heading into the halftime break.

2ND HALF

In third quarter, things got started with a Morgan Edwards three pointer to get the lead within single digits at 31-22 at the 9:21 mark. Both teams traded buckets until Alondra Lizama hit her first career three pointer which made the score 36-29. After going scoreless from deep in the first half, the Matadors drained two from distance in the third. The Matadors upped their defense on the perimeter as the Mustangs went 0-4 from three in the third.

CSUN would outscore Cal Poly 16-14 in the third period, but the lead was still at 10 heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, after the teams traded points in the first two minutes, Cal Poly would widen its lead with a 6-0 run before a Kayla Hopson free throw made it 53-38. Free throws accounted for a majority of CSUN's scoring in the final quarter, as the Matadors drew fouls and went 8-11 from the charity stripe. Despite going 1-11 from the field, CSUN was only outscored by three, 13-10, in the fourth. The final period was the worst period shooting percentage wise for the Mustangs, as Cal Poly only shot 33%. CSUN ultimately couldn't overcome the deficit as the final scoreboard read 58-45.

Lizama broke her career high in scoring and knocked down her first career three pointer in the third quarter.
The Matadors were solid from the charity stripe. Adams shot 7-8 from the FT line while the rest of the team went 8-11 for a 78.9% clip
CSUN held the Mustangs to only one made three in the second half.
CSUN forced 28 Mustang turnovers in the contest.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH ANGIE NED
"I think Cal Poly did a good job of applying pressure early, but we were able to make some adjustments and regain our composure in the second half. Alondra [Lizama] stepped in and did what she was asked. She played some forward and some center and she was able to execute plays."

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home next week as the Matadors will face California Baptist on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Jill Painter-Lopez will be on the call for ESPN+.

Matadors Drop Big West Home Opener to Cal Poly

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Team Stats

Morgan Edwards

Erica Adams

Yves Cox

Alondra Lizama

Players Mentioned

Erica Adams

Yves Cox

Morgan Edwards

Kayla Hopson

Alondra Lizama

Players Mentioned

Erica Adams

Yves Cox

Morgan Edwards

Kayla Hopson

Alondra Lizama