Matadors Take Down Toreros for Second Win in Two Games

NORTHRIDGE, Calif --- Rita Nazario and Jite Gbemuotor led the way for the Matadors as CSUN (2-0) defeated the University of San Diego Toreros (1-2), 63-48 Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena. CSUN has now started 2-0 for the third consecutive year.

Nazario led the way with 21 points including a red-hot 67% shooting from behind the arc, going 6-9 on the night. In total she went 7-12 from the field. Gbemuotor scored in double figures for the first time in her collegiate career as she scored 11 on 4-6 shooting.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The game went back and forth early as a jumper from Nadia Bernard made it a 7-7 game with 6:22 left to play in the first quarter. An Erika Aspajo layup made it a 17-13 game with less than two minutes left to play in the period. San Diego would tie the game before CSUN hit a bucket and a free throw to make it a 20-17 CSUN lead before the start of quarter two.

CSUN went on a run to begin the second quarter. The Matadors took it to the Toreros with an 11-2 run by going 4-9 from the field. The run made it a 31-19 game. USD countered with a run of its own, a 12-4 run to end the half. CSUN was up 35-31 heading into the break.

2ND HALF
A layup by Laini Dahlin started the scoring in the third. That layup started a 9-2 run to begin the third. A Mariona Cos-Morales driving layup got the lead back to double-digits as the scoreboard now read 44-33 game with 6:31 left to play in the quarter. With both teams trading buckets throughout the third, a Saray White three-pointer with 10 seconds bumped the CSUN lead to 14, its largest of the game, at 51-37. The Toreros got a quick bucket as time expired as it was a 51-39 game heading into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the CSUN defense was locked in, only allowing nine points to the opposing Toreros. CSUN held USD to 15.4% shooting as they went 2-13 from the field. Nazario drained two three pointers in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

NOTES OF THE GAME

This win marks CSUN's first victory over USD since 2000, it snapped a 13-game skid in the series.
Rita Nazario has put on a clinic in her first two games as a Matador. She leads the team in PPG at 17.0, and she is shooting a lights-out 64.3% from behind the arc.
Jite Gbemuotor has been a lightning rod off the bench. She is averaging a near double-double with 9.5 PPG and 12.0 RPG in her first two games at CSUN
USD led by two with 9:57 left in the first quarter, and that would be its last lead.
CSUN held USD to 0-7 shooting from three in the third quarter and 1-11 in the second half.
CSUN shot 88.9% from the free throw line in the win.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH ANGIE NED
"It was a team effort and commitment to the game plan by everyone that touched the floor. [About Nazario], Rita works hard and is consistent. I'm not surprised by her efforts and results! Our focus now is to improve defensively each week and continue to take steps forward"

UP NEXT
CSUN will embark on its first road trip of the year as the Matadors will take on San Diego State at Viejas Arena on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.

Matadors Take Down Toreros for Second Win in Two Games

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Team Stats

Rita Nazário

Jite Gbemuotor

Saray White

Alondra Lizama

Players Mentioned

Erika Aspajo

Nadia Bernard

Mariona Cos-Morales

Laini Dahlin

Jite Gbemuotor

Saray White