Saturday, March 1
Santa Barbara, Calif.
4:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-23,2-16Big West
52
at
74
UC Santa Barbara
18-11,12-7Big West
1
2
3
4
F
CSUN
8
14
15
15
52
UC Santa Barbara
20
16
12
26
74
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Falls to UCSB in Road Big West Contest
3/1/2025 6:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif --- CSUN Women's Basketball fell, 74-52 to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Saturday afternoon at The Thunderdome. Nnenna Orji led all CSUN scorers with 14 points while Erica Adams added 10 points of her own.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos began the game on an 8-0 run before CSUN stopped the run via a three-point bucket from Kayla Hopson to make it 8-3 at the 6:36 mark. UCSB then countered with a mini 5-0 run, when Hopson once again put an end to the run by draining a jump shot. Three free-throws by Nnenna Orji accounted for the rest of the first quarter scoring as UCSB maintained a 20-8 run after the first.
Â
After a made jumpshot by the Gauchos to kick off the second quarter, CSUN went on an 8-0 run, cutting the lead to single digits as Orji made a turnaround layup to get the lead to eight at 24-16 with 4:46 left in the half. Unfortunately for the Matadors, after cutting the lead to eight, UCSB went on a 10-0 run.Â
Â
The Matadors struck back with a corner three pointer by Kelly Tumlin to make it 34-19 with 2:56 left until intermission. After a made layup from the Gauchos, CSUN drained another shot from distance, this time from Jenna Kilty. The score would be 36-22 heading into intermission.
Â
2ND HALF
Â
After a three-point bucket from the Gauchos to start the second, CSUN got a couple buckets back from the efforts of Orji and Erika Aspajo. At the 6:40 mark, a layup by Orji trimmed the lead to 12 at 39-27. UCSB went on a mini 5-0 run before Hopson made a second chance layup with 3:59 left to play in the quarter. CSUN closed out the quarter on a 7-4 run as the scoreboard read 48-37 entering the fourth.
Â
In the fourth quarter, Morgan Edwards cut the lead to nine with a layup, three seconds into the period. After UCSB countered with a jumper, Adams made a three pointer from the corner, to get the lead to eight at 50-42 with 9:22 remaining. Santa Barbara responded with a 9-2 run to push the lead back further. An Edwards layup broke the run at the 6:15 mark, making the score 59-46. Unfortunately, UCSB went on a 7-0 run following that bucket from Edwards.
Â
Jenna Kilty made a shot from downtown after the Gaucho run, as time wasn't on CSUN's side. UCSB's lead was too much to overcome when the final buzzer rang.
Â
NEWS AND NOTES
UP NEXT
CSUN will return home to play its home finale, Thursday, March 6 against UC Riverside. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.
Â
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos began the game on an 8-0 run before CSUN stopped the run via a three-point bucket from Kayla Hopson to make it 8-3 at the 6:36 mark. UCSB then countered with a mini 5-0 run, when Hopson once again put an end to the run by draining a jump shot. Three free-throws by Nnenna Orji accounted for the rest of the first quarter scoring as UCSB maintained a 20-8 run after the first.
Â
After a made jumpshot by the Gauchos to kick off the second quarter, CSUN went on an 8-0 run, cutting the lead to single digits as Orji made a turnaround layup to get the lead to eight at 24-16 with 4:46 left in the half. Unfortunately for the Matadors, after cutting the lead to eight, UCSB went on a 10-0 run.Â
Â
The Matadors struck back with a corner three pointer by Kelly Tumlin to make it 34-19 with 2:56 left until intermission. After a made layup from the Gauchos, CSUN drained another shot from distance, this time from Jenna Kilty. The score would be 36-22 heading into intermission.
Â
2ND HALF
Â
After a three-point bucket from the Gauchos to start the second, CSUN got a couple buckets back from the efforts of Orji and Erika Aspajo. At the 6:40 mark, a layup by Orji trimmed the lead to 12 at 39-27. UCSB went on a mini 5-0 run before Hopson made a second chance layup with 3:59 left to play in the quarter. CSUN closed out the quarter on a 7-4 run as the scoreboard read 48-37 entering the fourth.
Â
In the fourth quarter, Morgan Edwards cut the lead to nine with a layup, three seconds into the period. After UCSB countered with a jumper, Adams made a three pointer from the corner, to get the lead to eight at 50-42 with 9:22 remaining. Santa Barbara responded with a 9-2 run to push the lead back further. An Edwards layup broke the run at the 6:15 mark, making the score 59-46. Unfortunately, UCSB went on a 7-0 run following that bucket from Edwards.
Â
Jenna Kilty made a shot from downtown after the Gaucho run, as time wasn't on CSUN's side. UCSB's lead was too much to overcome when the final buzzer rang.
Â
NEWS AND NOTES
- With the defeat, CSUN is now 4-23 on the season, 2-16 in Big West play.
- With 14 points, Orji has scored in double-figures in nine out of the last 11 games played.
- Adams had 10 points today, her first game scoring in double-figures since the last time these two teams played on Jan. 30
- Kilty tallied three made shots from distance, as she had three out of the seven made total.
- Aspajo led the team with five assists.Â
UP NEXT
CSUN will return home to play its home finale, Thursday, March 6 against UC Riverside. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.
Â
Team Stats
CSUN
UCSB
FG%
.290
.456
3FG%
.250
.382
FT%
.474
.900
RB
35
44
TO
13
19
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballCSUN-UCSD Highlights
Monday, February 20
WBB-San Diego State at CSUN
Sunday, December 09
Women's Basketball-Loyola Marymount at CSUN
Friday, December 07
Women's Basketball-California Baptist at CSUN
Wednesday, November 28