California State University Northridge Athletics

Photo by: Chuck Marvel
UCSD Turns Back CSUN, 82-67
1/31/2026 6:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN DIEGO, Calif --- The CSUN women's basketball team (6-14, 2-9 Big West) was defeated by the UC San Diego Tritons (15-6, 10-1 Big West), 82-67 at LionTree Arena Saturday afternoon. Erika Aspajo led the Matadors with 20 points. Alondra Lizama chipped in 14 as well.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
UCSD came out the gates strong with an 8-2 run as four different players scored from the Tritons. However, CSUN did not waver. The Matadors responded with a small 5-0 run capped off by a Morgan Edwards layup with a feed from Aspajo at the six-minute mark. UCSD then answered back with an 11-3 run with more balanced scoring throughout its offense. The Tritons ended the first quarter with a 24-12 lead over the Matadors.
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In the second quarter, the CSUN offense was firing on all cylinders. Aspajo got things going with a driving layup at the 8:44 mark to cut the lead to 10. Both teams then traded buckets back and forth with no team getting a real edge. Down 11 with 6:47 remaining in the half, CSUN went on a 9-2 run with three made field goals and a shot from distance. CSUN cut the lead to six with 5:12 on the clock.
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UCSD scored the next four points before Aspajo laced a three-pointer as she was now double-digits in scoring with 11. Rosa Smith from the Tritons countered with a three of her own to push the lead back to 10 with 3:21 on the clock as the scoreboard now read 40-30. CSUN ended the half on a 6-2 run thanks to four points from Nadia Bernard. UCSD entered the intermission with a six point lead at 42-36. The Matadors outscored the Tritons though 24-18 in the quarter.
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SECOND HALF
Both teams split the first 20 points scored in the quarter as Rita Nazario drained two shots from distance in the process, including one at the 5:47 mark to keep the lead at six. CSUN then went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 54 apiece with 1:53 remaining in the third. Aspajo had six out of the eight points in the run. UCSD ended the quarter on a mini 5-0 run, as the Tritons carried a five point lead at 59-54 going into the final 12 minutes.
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In the fourth quarter, the Tritons started to pull away. UCSD began the quarter on an 18-0 run, with 12 points coming from Erin Condron and Dymonique Maxie. Aspajo ended the run with a long distance trey to cut the lead to 20 at 77-57. After a UCSD layup, CSUN went on a mini 5-0 to try and claw back, capped off by a Morgan Edwards three pointer with 1:47 left in the game. Time was not on the Matadors side as the lead put up in the early going of the quarter proved to be the difference.Â
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NOTES OF THE GAME
CSUN returns home for a game against Cal Poly, Thursday, February 5 at Premier America Credit Union Arena with tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call.
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#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
UCSD came out the gates strong with an 8-2 run as four different players scored from the Tritons. However, CSUN did not waver. The Matadors responded with a small 5-0 run capped off by a Morgan Edwards layup with a feed from Aspajo at the six-minute mark. UCSD then answered back with an 11-3 run with more balanced scoring throughout its offense. The Tritons ended the first quarter with a 24-12 lead over the Matadors.
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In the second quarter, the CSUN offense was firing on all cylinders. Aspajo got things going with a driving layup at the 8:44 mark to cut the lead to 10. Both teams then traded buckets back and forth with no team getting a real edge. Down 11 with 6:47 remaining in the half, CSUN went on a 9-2 run with three made field goals and a shot from distance. CSUN cut the lead to six with 5:12 on the clock.
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UCSD scored the next four points before Aspajo laced a three-pointer as she was now double-digits in scoring with 11. Rosa Smith from the Tritons countered with a three of her own to push the lead back to 10 with 3:21 on the clock as the scoreboard now read 40-30. CSUN ended the half on a 6-2 run thanks to four points from Nadia Bernard. UCSD entered the intermission with a six point lead at 42-36. The Matadors outscored the Tritons though 24-18 in the quarter.
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SECOND HALF
Both teams split the first 20 points scored in the quarter as Rita Nazario drained two shots from distance in the process, including one at the 5:47 mark to keep the lead at six. CSUN then went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 54 apiece with 1:53 remaining in the third. Aspajo had six out of the eight points in the run. UCSD ended the quarter on a mini 5-0 run, as the Tritons carried a five point lead at 59-54 going into the final 12 minutes.
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In the fourth quarter, the Tritons started to pull away. UCSD began the quarter on an 18-0 run, with 12 points coming from Erin Condron and Dymonique Maxie. Aspajo ended the run with a long distance trey to cut the lead to 20 at 77-57. After a UCSD layup, CSUN went on a mini 5-0 to try and claw back, capped off by a Morgan Edwards three pointer with 1:47 left in the game. Time was not on the Matadors side as the lead put up in the early going of the quarter proved to be the difference.Â
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NOTES OF THE GAME
- For the second time in three games, Aspajo scored 20 points, leading the team both times.
- Lizama has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games.
- CSUN was 13-14 from the free-throw line.
- CSUN outscored UCSD in the second (24-18) and third (18-17) quarters.
- CSUN outrebounded UCSD, 32-31
- CSUN shot 50 percent 8/16 from behind the arc.
- Nazario also played a team-high 33 minutes.Â
CSUN returns home for a game against Cal Poly, Thursday, February 5 at Premier America Credit Union Arena with tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez on the call.
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#GoMatadors
Team Stats
CSUN
UCSD
FG%
.460
.478
3FG%
.500
.263
FT%
.929
.722
RB
32
31
TO
31
18
STL
11
22
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Friday, February 13
Saturday, January 24
Thursday, December 11
Thursday, December 11










