CSUN Kicks off 2026 With Two Big West Showdowns, UC Davis and UCSB

GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif --- The CSUN women's basketball team (5-6, 1-1 Big West) will kick off the new year with a return to Big West action as the Matadors will take on the UC Davis Aggies (8-4, 1-0 Big West) on New Year's Day at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. Then, CSUN will travel to UC Santa Barbara (10-1, 2-0 Big West) for a road contest against the Gauchos, Jan. 3rd at 2:00 p.m. in the Thunderdome. Both games will stream live on ESPN+, with Jill Painter-Lopez and Chris Nicoletti on the call for Thursday's home game.

LAST TIME OUT
Before the Matadors took a break for the Christmas holiday, CSUN dropped a pair of games; losing an 77-56 decision at home to Northern Arizona and falling by six points (69-63) at Pepperdine.

Northern Arizona
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks defeated CSUN 77-56 Thursday, Dec. 18 at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Kelly Tumlin led the Matadors in points as she tallied 10 on the night. Rita Nazario added nine as well. NAU's Madison Watts scored 20 points and Naomi White added a game-high 27 as Northern Arizona pulled away in the second half to take the win. The Lumberjacks used a balanced offensive effort and forced 24 turnovers in the game. NAU took control early, building a 37-23 halftime lead before outscoring the Matadors 40-33 over the final two quarters. CSUN added 29 points off the bench in the defeat.

Pepperdine
CSUN fell to the Pepperdine Waves, 69-63, Dec. 20 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Rita Nazario led the scoring with 16 points, nine of which coming in the fourth quarter alone. Saray White scored a career-high 14 points and Nadia Bernard added 14 as well. Lina Falk led all scorers with 18 points for Pepperdine. CSUN fell despite outscoring Pepperdine 45-38 in the second half. The Matadors shot 58.% in the third quarter, draining 10 out of 17 shots. Nazario, White and Bernard accounted for 44 of the 63 points scored. CSUN tallied 19 off the bench.

NAZARIO HAS MADE A STATEMENT
Entering this year, 5'5 guard Rita Nazario came over to the Matadors after playing previously at Saint Louis. Since becoming a Matador, she has left her mark all over this season and has become CSUN's most reliable scorer through 11 games. She is currently leading the team in points per game at 13.9. Nazario's average is the highest on the team since the 2022-23 season when Tess Amundsen tallied 14 a game. She has the most three-pointers on the squad with 36 made. She is shooting 44% from the field and 44% from three. The Portugal native also leads the team in minutes per game at 28.5. Nazario is also third in the nation at three-pointers per game at 3.27.

THE RESERVES GETTING IT DONE
CSUN has had a balanced scoring attack from its entire team all season long. The Matadors are eighth in the nation in bench points per game at 32.1 points per contest. The two best games in terms of bench scoring output came against Bethesda on November 4 and Life Pacific on November 26. In the game against Bethesda, CSUN had 67 points scored from the non-starters. Against Life Pacific, 60 of the Matadors record setting 106 points came off the bench. Morgan Edwards has been a star off the bench, averaging 7.2 PPG in a sixth man role. She scored a season high 21 points against Life Pacific.

BRINGING DOWN THE BOARDS
CSUN is currently leading the Big West in rebounds per game at 43.3 per contest. Jite Gbemuotor (62) and Nadia Bernard (62) have already passed the 50 rebound mark in the team's first nine games. Eight different Matadors have at least 20 rebounds so far this season. Every single Matador has double-digit rebounds as well. CSUN is 34th in the nation in that category.

SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies come into Thursday's game with an 8-4 record overall and a 1-0 Big West record. UCD averages 69.9 points per game while allowing 63.9 points on the defensive end. The Aggies are second in the Big West in three-pointers made per game at 9.8. The Aggies have a balanced scoring attack, as they have four players that average double-figures in the points category.

Ryann Bennett leads the team with 17.3 and Nya Epps is second at 11.9. Megan Norris puts up 11.8 PPG while Avery Sussex puts up 11.5 PPG. UC Davis is a threat from the foul line. The Aggies have the second best free-throw percentage in the Big West. They shoot 77.2% from the charity stripe so far this season.

UCD started the season on a three-game winning streak with victories over Jessup, Idaho and Weber State. The Aggies lone Big West win came against the 2025 champion in Hawai'i.

SERIES HISTORY
UC Davis is currently 36-17 all-time against CSUN. The Matadors' last victory against the Aggies was in the 2018 Big West Championship Match. CSUN punched its ticket to the March Madness Tournament in a 63-55 win.

SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
UCSB is a Big West best 10-1 overall entering this week's matchups. The Gauchos are currently riding a nine game winning streak, and are 3-0 at home with the Matadors coming into town. The Gauchos are third in the Big West in scoring at 72.5 points per contest. The calling card for UCSB is its defense. The Gauchos are currently giving up 59.1 points per game, second best in the Big West.

Zoe Borter, their best player, is leading the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Olivia Bradley is right behind her. The sophomore forward is second at 13.2 per contest. UCSB has the highest field goal percentage of anyone in the Big West, at 43.6%. The Gauchos also lead the Big West in three-point percentage at 39.1%.

UCSB has wins against California Baptist, Bakersfield and San Jose State, all of whom CSUN has played this season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Matadors are 20-55 all-time against UCSB. CSUN's last win came on Jan. 5, 2019 where CSUN was victorious 73-65 at home.

CSUN Kicks off 2026 With Two Big West Showdowns, UC Davis and UCSB

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Players Mentioned

Nadia Bernard

Morgan Edwards

Jite Gbemuotor

Kelly Tumlin

Saray White