Thursday, February 6
Fullerton, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-17,2-10Big West
61
at
65
Cal State Fullerton
5-17,3-9Big West
1
2
3
4
F
CSUN
13
9
15
24
61
Cal St. Fullerton
16
10
19
20
65
Photo by: Connor Clark
CSUN Bested by Fullerton in Thrilling Big West Contest
2/6/2025 9:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FULLERTON, Calif --- CSUN Women's Basketball fell to the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a back-and-forth slugfest, 65-61 at Titan Gym. Kelly Tumlin led all CSUN scorers with a career-high 21 points as she drained a career best six three-point field goals. Nnenna Orji followed with 12 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Orji got the scoring started with a turnaround layup at the 9:40 mark to get the game underway. After both teams traded baskets, Fullerton went on an 8-4 run. The Titans led 14-9 before CSUN went on a mini 4-0 run thanks to two buckets from Orji to make it a one-point game with 1:22 left in the period. Another bucket by Fullerton stretched the CSUF lead to three heading into the second quarter.
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To start the second, Tumlin drained her first shot from downtown to tie the game at 16. Fullerton followed with another mini 4-0 run but a Kayla Hopson free-throw and a Karsen Marshall layup kept it a one-point game at the 6:29 mark. No team pulled away as Fullerton ended the half with a four-point lead. Despite the lead, CSUN held Fullerton to just 25% shooting and no three-point field goals in the second. The Titans were held to just 11.1% from distance in the half. CSUN outrebounded Fullerton, 30-15, heading into intermission
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2ND HALF
Both teams traded blows as Orji got her eighth point on a turn-around post move, but neither team went on a major run. At the five-minute mark, CSUF outscored the Matadors 9-6, and held its biggest lead of the day at seven as a media timeout was called.
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Out of the timeout, Alondra Lizama hit two free throws and a fast-break layup to get the lead to three points with 4:44 remaining in the third. Fullerton responded with a layup of its own but CSUN fought back with a corner three from Dahlin, cutting the lead to two with 2:53 left to play in the period. With its lead at two, Fullerton went on its biggest run of the game, ending the quarter on an 8-2 run. The Titans led 45-37 going into the final quarter.
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In the fourth, Layla Davis got the scoring started for the Titans, but back-to-back layups from Orji trimmed the lead back to six. After a made free-throw by CSUF, Tumlin, the junior from San Ramon, hit three buckets in a row from distance to tie the game at 50 before a timeout by Fullerton at the 5:12 mark.
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After two made free-throws by CSUF, Tumlin was fouled on a shot from behind the arc and was awarded three free throws. CSUN ended up taking its first lead of the game when Tumlin hit all the free throws to put CSUN ahead 53-52 with 4:52 remaining. After both teams traded buckets, Emily Stratchen of the Titans drove in for a layup to take the lead back.
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However, it wasn't for long. Tumlin hit her fifth three of the night, to regain the lead for the Matadors at 58-56. Fullerton responded and had a 6-0 run to take a four point lead with 1:41 remaining. Incredibly, Tumlin answered with her sixth three of the contest to bring the lead to one with 29 seconds left. Two made free-throws for the Titans gave CSUN the ball and trailing 64-61. A Dahlin three-point attempt was blocked and that sealed the game for the Titans. CSUN dropped a nailbiter in the game's final seconds.
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NOTES OF THE GAME
CSUN returns home for a showdown against Long Beach State this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside Premier America Credit Union Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Orji got the scoring started with a turnaround layup at the 9:40 mark to get the game underway. After both teams traded baskets, Fullerton went on an 8-4 run. The Titans led 14-9 before CSUN went on a mini 4-0 run thanks to two buckets from Orji to make it a one-point game with 1:22 left in the period. Another bucket by Fullerton stretched the CSUF lead to three heading into the second quarter.
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To start the second, Tumlin drained her first shot from downtown to tie the game at 16. Fullerton followed with another mini 4-0 run but a Kayla Hopson free-throw and a Karsen Marshall layup kept it a one-point game at the 6:29 mark. No team pulled away as Fullerton ended the half with a four-point lead. Despite the lead, CSUN held Fullerton to just 25% shooting and no three-point field goals in the second. The Titans were held to just 11.1% from distance in the half. CSUN outrebounded Fullerton, 30-15, heading into intermission
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2ND HALF
Both teams traded blows as Orji got her eighth point on a turn-around post move, but neither team went on a major run. At the five-minute mark, CSUF outscored the Matadors 9-6, and held its biggest lead of the day at seven as a media timeout was called.
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Out of the timeout, Alondra Lizama hit two free throws and a fast-break layup to get the lead to three points with 4:44 remaining in the third. Fullerton responded with a layup of its own but CSUN fought back with a corner three from Dahlin, cutting the lead to two with 2:53 left to play in the period. With its lead at two, Fullerton went on its biggest run of the game, ending the quarter on an 8-2 run. The Titans led 45-37 going into the final quarter.
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In the fourth, Layla Davis got the scoring started for the Titans, but back-to-back layups from Orji trimmed the lead back to six. After a made free-throw by CSUF, Tumlin, the junior from San Ramon, hit three buckets in a row from distance to tie the game at 50 before a timeout by Fullerton at the 5:12 mark.
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After two made free-throws by CSUF, Tumlin was fouled on a shot from behind the arc and was awarded three free throws. CSUN ended up taking its first lead of the game when Tumlin hit all the free throws to put CSUN ahead 53-52 with 4:52 remaining. After both teams traded buckets, Emily Stratchen of the Titans drove in for a layup to take the lead back.
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However, it wasn't for long. Tumlin hit her fifth three of the night, to regain the lead for the Matadors at 58-56. Fullerton responded and had a 6-0 run to take a four point lead with 1:41 remaining. Incredibly, Tumlin answered with her sixth three of the contest to bring the lead to one with 29 seconds left. Two made free-throws for the Titans gave CSUN the ball and trailing 64-61. A Dahlin three-point attempt was blocked and that sealed the game for the Titans. CSUN dropped a nailbiter in the game's final seconds.
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NOTES OF THE GAME
- Kelly Tumlin broke her career high in points (21) and made three-point field goals (6).
- Nnenna Orji has now scored in double-figures in five straight games.
- CSUN held Fullerton to just 8% shooting (1/12) from behind the arc.
- All nine Matadors who played tonight tallied at least one point.
- Orji, Erica Adams, and Karsen Marshall each brought down eight rebounds. Marshall's eight is also a career high.Â
CSUN returns home for a showdown against Long Beach State this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside Premier America Credit Union Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call.
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Team Stats
CSUN
CSF
FG%
.362
.373
3FG%
.320
.083
FT%
.579
.741
RB
47
34
TO
26
16
STL
10
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
6
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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