CSUN Earns Postseason Spot in Dominant Performance Against Bakersfield, 82-47

Thursday, March 5

Northridge, Calif

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

10-18,6-13Big West

Cal State Bakersfield

7-22,2-17Big West

CSU Bakersfield

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Earns Postseason Spot in Dominant Performance Against Bakersfield, 82-47

3/5/2026 9:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The CSUN women's basketball team (10-18, 6-13 Big West) used a dominant defensive performance and several key scoring runs to defeat CSU Bakersfield 82-47 on Wednesday during Senior Night at Premier America Credit Union Arena. Rita Nazario led the Matadors in scoring with 16 points. Amya Moody added 13 and Jite Gbemuotor contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds in the win. With the win and the Long Beach State loss to UC Davis earlier on in the night, CSUN clinched the eighth seed in next week's Big West Basketball Championship.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors controlled the game from the opening minutes and never trailed, leading for more than 38 minutes while holding the Roadrunners to just 23% shooting from the field.

CSUN set the tone early with a strong start on both ends of the floor. After the teams were tied 2-2 in the opening minute, the Matadors rattled off a 10-2 run behind baskets from Gbemuotor, Mariona Cos-Morales and Saray White to build a 12-4 lead midway through the first quarter. The Matadors continued to push the pace and took a 19-9 advantage into the second quarter.

CSUN held Bakersfield to just 13.3% shooting from the field and 0-8 from three in the first 10 minutes.

The Matadors extended the margin in the second period with another surge. CSUN scored eight straight points to stretch the lead to 28-11 and later closed the half strong to take a 39-22 lead into the break. Five different Matadors scored in the second quarter as CSUN shot over 50% for the second straight quarter.

The Matadors put the game away in the third quarter. A quick 8-2 burst early in the period pushed the lead past 20 points, and a three-pointer from Rita Nazario capped a larger 14-2 run that made it 54-26. CSUN outscored CSU Bakersfield 25-9 in the quarter to take a commanding 64-31 lead into the fourth.

CSUN's advantage continued to grow in the final period as the Matadors led by as many as 36 points before settling for the 35-point victory

The Roadrunners struggled offensively throughout the night, connecting on just 14 of 61 field-goal attempts and 3 of 27 from three-point range.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Nazario's 16 points included four three-pointers.
Bakersfield's 47 points was the lowest total CSUN has held a Big West opponent to this season.
Moody's 13 points came on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting night, including two triples.
This is the fifth game this season that Gbemuotor has grabbed at least 15 rebounds and her 10th double figure rebound game overall. Also her ninth double-double of the year.
CSUN shot exactly 50% as a team.
CSUN had 36 points in the paint.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH ANGIE NED
"The team is continuing to play connected on defense and it's fun to watch. Spacing and ball movement has helped with offensive production. [On making the Big West tournament] It is a huge accomplishment! I couldn't be happier for this team and the opportunity to represent the Valley in the Big West Basketball Championship."

UP NEXT
CSUN concludes the regular season with a trip to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. Tip-off at Titan Gym will be at 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.