CSUN Takes on UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton Next

Game Notes

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--- CSUN Women's Basketball (2-23, 0-15 Big West) continues Big West play with an away game against UC Davis before returning home to play Cal State Fullerton. The Matadors will play the Aggies on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. CSUN will then battle the Titans on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Matadors fell to Cal State Bakersfield 61-50 on Thursday night in the Premier America Credit Union Arena. 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, but CSUN kept control and took the first quarter with a score of 14-10. The Roadrunners continued to fight, but they wouldn't make headway until they tied the game at the end of the third quarter with a score of 39-39. The Matadors tried to regain their lead, but the Roadrunners pulled ahead with a 19-9 run to take the game.

CSUN then lost to Long Beach State 86-62 on Saturday. The Beach opened with a strong run as the Matadors fought to regain ground. Kaitlyn Elsholz, Laney Amundsen, and Arina Nikishina would keep CSUN in the fight as they trailed 36-27 at the end of the first half. The Matadors tried to regain a second wind, but were unable to as the Beach kept control of the court for the remainder of the game.

SPRIGGS MANAGING THE BOARDS
Junior forward Kayanna Spriggs has topped CSUN in rebounding in 15 games this season as she has averaged 7.4 per game. Recently, Spriggs grabbed 16 rebounds on her own against Cal State Bakersfield. The very next game, she set a new career-high with 17 rebounds against Long Beach State. In both games she led in scoring with 15 and 11, respectively. Spriggs has pulled down double-figure rebounds in six games this season and collected four double-doubles. She also leads the team in scoring at 9.4 points while she leads the team in points per game in Big West play (10.2). On the year, Spriggs leads in most steals per game at 1.4.

NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPRESSION
Junior guard Erica Adams holds the fourth-highest scoring average for CSUN at 8.3 points this season. A Pacific transfer, Adams is shooting 35.9 percent while averaging 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Another new face this season, junior forward Talo Li-Uperesa is leading the team in blocks at 1.1 per game to go with averaging 7.6 points. Li-Uperesa, a transfer from the City of College of San Francisco, is shooting 42.1 percent in 31.4 minutes per game.

CSUN's true freshman Kaitlyn Elsholz has been a force in her first season with the Matadors. Elsholz, who was named Big West Player of the Week on Nov. 13, led CSUN in scoring against UC Santa Barbara with 21. More recently, Elsholz was second on the team in scoring against Long Beach State with 14 points. She is third on the team in scoring with 8.5 with 11 blocks on the year. Elsholz also leads for the most shots made from the 3-point range (34) on the team.

MATADORS ON THE BIG WEST CHARTS
Kayanna Spriggs is tied for sixth in The Big West in rebounds per game (7.4). Talo Li-Uperesa is tied for third in the league in blocks per game (1.2). Kayanna Spriggs and Kaitlyn Elsholz are both tied for 16th in steals per game (1.4). As a team, CSUN rises to second in The Big West in blocks per game (3.6), fifth in steals per game (9.0), and rises to fourth in rebounds per game (35.9).

SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies have an overall record of 13-12 and a conference record of 9-6. UC Davis is coming off a 50-41 loss against UC Riverside last Saturday. The team welcomed three new players, two of whom are freshmen this season. Senior Evanne Turner leads the Mustangs in scoring with 14.3 points per game. Sophomore Megan Norris leads the team in rebounds per game (7.4). Junior Sydney Burns leads in assists per game (3.6) and steals (1.1). The Mustangs are led by head coach Jennifer Gross who is in her 12th season.

Series History: UC Davis leads the all-time series history 33-17. The last game in the series was in Premier America Credit Union Arena on Jan. 11, 2024, where the Aggies won with a final score of 55-45. CSUN's last win in the series was in the Big West Championship game in March 2018.

SCOUTING CAL STATE FULLERTON
The Titans have an overall record of 8-16 and a conference record of 4-10. Cal State Fullerton is coming off a win against UC San Diego, 60-46. The Titans will take on Cal Poly before challenging the Matadors. Cal State Fullerton added six to their roster, five of whom are freshmen this season. Senior Gabi Vidmar leads the team in scoring with 11.8 points per game and steals per game (2.1). Another senior, Ashlee Lewis leads the team in blocks (1.5) and rebounds (8.6). Head coach Jeff Harada has been leading the Titans for seven years.

Series History: CSUN is narrowly behind Fullerton in the all-time series as the Titans lead 32-30. The last game played was on January 13, 2024, in Titan Gym with the Titans winning 68-62.

#GoMatadors

CSUN Takes on UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton Next

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Erica Adams

Laney Amundsen

Kaitlyn Elsholz

Talo Li-Uperesa

Arina Nikishina

Kayanna Spriggs