CSUN Cruises Past La Sierra for Opening Night Win

Tuesday, November 3

Northridge, Calif

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

1-0,0-0Big West

La Sierra

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	F
La Sierra	8	10	9	13	40
CSUN	24	25	23	20	92

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

11/3/2026 9:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN women's basketball team (1-0) led from start to finish as the Matadors defeated the La Sierra Golden Eagles, 92-40, Tuesday night at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Kira-May Filemu led the way in her Matador debut with 18 points on 7-12 shooting while freshman guard Sophia Dignadice dished nine assists in her collegiate debut.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN led from the get-go tonight, going on a 10-0 run to start the game, led by three-pointers from Rita Nazario and Carlotta Cocuzza. Nine different Matadors scored in the first quarter as the lead ballooned to 24-8 to end the game's first 10 minutes. The staunch CSUN defense held the Golden Eagles to 18.8% shooting from the field and 2-10 from behind the arc.

In the second quarter, the Matadors went on a 16-0 run out of the gate. Five different Matadors scored in the run, led by five points from Filemu. La Sierra committed four turnovers and was 0-4 from the field in the run. CSUN ended up outscoring the Golden Eagles by 15, 25-10 in large part from the three-point shot and free-throws. CSUN was 3-5 from distance and 6-8 from the charity stripe in the second to extend to a 49-18 lead at halftime.

SECOND HALF
In the third quarter, CSUN came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders, starting the quarter on a 10-3 run with eight points scored by the team's leader in buckets, Filemu. The Golden Eagles had no answer for the relentless Matador offense, as CSUN attempted 12 more shots in the quarter, knocking down nine of them for 23 points scored. The lead continued to get higher as the Matadors were in the driver's seat.

In the fourth quarter, the Matadors continued to be tough on both sides of the ball. CSUN scored at least 20 for the fourth consecutive quarter, and they only allowed 13 on the other side, holding the Golden Eagles to 33.3 percent shooting. Six different Matadors scored in the quarter, led by six from Amya Moody. CSUN forced five turnovers in the fourth, and it drained three shots from distance in the process.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Every CSUN player found the scoring column in the win.
CSUN made 13 shots from distance.
The Matadors were 11-14 from the line.
CSUN had 19 steals to La Sierra's three.
The Matadors had 17 second chance points.
Princess Okafor Nweze had nine points in her Matador debut.
Dignadice and Okafor Nweze each had four steals.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH ANGIE NED
On the newcomers and the team's chemistry:
"I like how they're connected. They're playing hard for each other, and we're just trying to get them to do that for longer periods of time. It's fun to see them develop that chemistry and start to spark a little bit for us. That's fun to watch."

On freshman Sofia Dignadice's game and immediate impact:
"She just plays the game the right way. She's going to look to be aggressive on offense and on defense. I think she sees the floor pretty well for us, and I'm happy she's on our team."

UP NEXT
CSUN has a week off before it hits the road against Boise State on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. PT.