CSUN Falls to UC Davis, 85-66 in New Year’s Day Nightcap

Thursday, January 1

Northridge, Calif

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

5-7,1-2Big West

UC Davis

9-4,2-0Big West

Team	1	2	3	4	F
UC Davis	23	16	25	21	85
CSUN	15	11	22	18	66

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls to UC Davis, 85-66 in New Year’s Day Nightcap

1/1/2026 9:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---The CSUN women's basketball team (5-7, 1-2 Big West) fell to the UC Davis Aggies (9-4, 2-0 Big West), 85-66 on New Year's Day at Premier America Credit Union Arena.

Ryann Bennett led UC Davis with a game-high 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting. CSUN was paced by Saray White, who finished with a career and team-high 18 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Jite Gbemuotor contributed 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while Amya Moody added eight points off the bench.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN got off to an early lead when Kelly Tumlin drained a shot from behind the arc to give the Matadors an early 3-0 lead. UCD then went on an 11-3 run before White sunk two free throws to make it an 11-8 game with 5:42 left to play in the first. The game went back and forth but ultimately the Aggies ended the first on a 12-7 run. Rita Nazario drained a three in that run as Davis took a 23-15 lead heading into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, both teams turned on the defense as both teams struggled to get much going. It was the least amount of points scored in the quarter by both teams. CSUN shot 3-15 from the field and 1-9 from behind the arc. UC Davis outscored the Matadors 16-11 in the period. The Aggies carried a 13-point lead, 39-26 going into the break. Megan Norris of the Aggies controlled the glass in the first half, grabbing a game-high 12 boards in the first 20 minutes.

SECOND HALF
CSUN came out of the intermission firing, scoring 22 points in the quarter. CSUN shot 56.3% from the field, including 3-6 from behind the arc. The Matadors were trying to throw haymakers, the only problem was that UC Davis was ready for whatever CSUN was throwing its way. While CSUN came out hot, UC Davis responded, scoring 25 of its own on 10-16 shooting on 4-8 from distance.

UC Davis stretched the lead to as many as 20 points late in the quarter, entering the fourth with a 64-48 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, UC Davis closed the game out and prevented CSUN from mounting a late comeback. UC Davis outscored CSUN 21-18 in the final period. The Aggies continued to score efficiently, getting baskets from Bennett, Tegan Young and Norris to keep the margin comfortably in double figures. CSUN showed fight late, with White attacking the basket and Gbemuotor creating extra possessions, but the Matadors were unable to generate a sustained run.

NOTES OF THE GAME

White's career high of 18 points beats her previous high of 14 set in the last game against Pepperdine.
White was 5-6 from the charity stripe as well.
Gbemuotor's 13 points were also a career high, beating her previous high of 11.
Gbemuotor also had a career-high four steals in the win.
CSUN had 12 steals total.

UP NEXT
CSUN will travel to UC Santa Barbara to take on the Gauchos Saturday afternoon at The Thunderdome. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.