CSUN Falls to Cal State Bakersfield

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Women's Basketball fell to Cal State Bakersfield 61-50 on Thursday night. Kayanna Spriggs recorded her third double double as she led the Matadors in rebounds (16) and points with 15. She was followed by Laney Amundsen who had nine points and seven rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors opened the game with a layup by Erica Adams. CSUN continued its lead with a layup and jumper by Spriggs for a 6-0 lead. The Roadrunners tried to close the distance with a basket of their own, but Kaitlyn Elsholz shut them down with a 3-pointer. Cal State Bakersfield continued its efforts, determined to gain ground, but Spriggs helped the Matadors pull ahead. The Roadrunners managed to climb to a one-point difference, but Amundsen helped the Matadors pull ahead with a 3-pointer in the last seven seconds. CSUN took the first quarter with a score of 14-10.

Amundsen continued her momentum into the second quarter as she made a layup and a 3-pointer. The Roadrunners weren't going to stay down as they made a few baskets to bring them trailing at 21-18. Spriggs and Arina Nikishina wasted no time firing back as CSUN pulled away again at 25-18. Cal State Bakersfield refused to lose the fight as they once again nearly closed the distance at 25-24. Rachel Harvey closed out the half with two final free throws to bring CSUN to 27-24 at the 1:18 mark.

CSUN opened the third quarter with a jumper by Spriggs and a layup from Elsholz. The Roadrunners made another basket to stay in the game, but Talo Li-Uperesa quickly fired back with a 3-pointer to raise CSUN to 34-25. The Roadrunners got a short burst as they went on a 5-3 run, but Li-Uperesa struck again to try to kill their momentum. Cal State Bakersfield didn't flinch as they went on a 9-0 run to close the quarter at a tie of 39-39.

The Roadrunners opened the final quarter with a 3-pointer. Nikishina interrupted them with a layup, but Cal State Bakersfield kept the baskets coming. Spriggs, Li-Uperesa, and Harvey each took shots of their own, but the Roadrunners kept control with a 19-9 run to take the game.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 2-22 in its overall record and 0-14 in conference. Cal State Bakersfield improves to 8-15 overall and 5-9 in conference.
The Roadrunners outshot the Matadors in 3-pointers with 13 to CSUN's four.
The Matadors had more points in the paint with 22 to the Roadrunner's eight.

UP NEXT
CSUN hits the road to take on Long Beach State on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors

Players Mentioned

Erica Adams

Laney Amundsen

Kaitlyn Elsholz

Rachel Harvey

Talo Li-Uperesa

Arina Nikishina

Kayanna Spriggs