The CSUN women’s basketball team is still searching for its first win this season after losing to Long Beach State 71-56 at the Walter Pyramid Saturday night.

Senior center Katie Holloway scored a game-high 22 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Holloway also made a career-high eight free throws. Junior guard Ashley Blake scored 13 points, while junior forward Crystal Hahs and freshman Analee Viena-Lota scored six points each. Viena-Lott also grabbed seven rebounds.

“Her style of play is changing and she’s getting more aggressive,” Schulz said of Viena-Lott. “The stronger she gets, the better for us. She did some pretty nice things out on the court.”

Hahs broke the all-time blocks record after adding three for the night, bringing her career total to 99. Hahs is the conference leader in blocked shots, with 36 for the season and averaging 2.40 per game, which puts her at 24th in the nation.

Schulz said Hahs gets a lot of her blocks in the help position where she is blocking players coming into the lane.

“She’s got long arms, she’s fast and she can appear out of nowhere,” Schulz said.

The Matadors shot 31.7 percent (20-63) for the game, an improvement over their last outing. But, it wasn’t enough to beat the 49ers, who shot 46.8 percent (29-62) for the night. Long Beach also grabbed more rebounds, 45 compared to 36 by the Matadors. CSUN was better from the free throw line, shooting 76.5 percent to the 49ers 66.7%. The Matadors committed a season-low 15 turnovers, compared to 18 by the 49ers.

Schulz credits the team’s point guards with the low number of turnovers in the game.

“They’re handling the ball better against the pressure,” Schulz said. “They’re making good decisions about passing in to the post.”

CSUN’s leading scorer, Whitney Ligon, was held to just 5 points in 24 minutes of play. Tonicia Tademy, the conference leader in assists with 53 for the season, didn’t have one in the game. She averages 3.53 per game.

Schulz said that since Ligon scored 40 points against Pacific, teams have been limiting her shots.

“A lot of teams put their best defender on her,” Schulz said. In turn, Ligon is forced to rush some of her shots, Schulz said.

Long Beach held CSUN to just 25 percent shooting in the first half and outscored the Matadors 34 to 20. Although CSUN improved it’s shooting to 37.1 percent in the second half and scored 36 points to the 49ers 37, the Matadors could not overcome the first half deficit.

Long Beach had four players in double-digits, with guard Karina Figueroa scoring a team-high 18 points. Guard LaTorya Barbee chipped in 13 points, while guard Tyresha Calhoun scored 11 and forward Ally Wade scored 10. Courtney Jacob pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Matadors drop to 0-16 overall, 0-6 Big West while Long Beach State improves to 4-13,2-4.

CSUN will head south on Thursday to play UC Irvine at 7 p.m.

von Winckelmann

Sports Editor

The CSUN women’s basketball team is still searching for its first win this season after losing to Long Beach State 71-56 at the Walter Pyramid Saturday night.

Senior center Katie Holloway scored a game-high 22 points while pulling down eight rebounds. Holloway also made a career-high eight free throws. Junior guard Ashley Blake scored 13 points, while junior forward Crystal Hahs and freshman Analee Viena-Lota scored six points each. Viena-Lott also grabbed seven rebounds.

“Her style of play is changing and she’s getting more aggressive,” Schulz said of Viena-Lott. “The stronger she gets, the better for us. She did some pretty nice things out on the court.”

Hahs broke the all-time blocks record after adding three for the night, bringing her career total to 99. Hahs is the conference leader in blocked shots, with 36 for the season and averaging 2.40 per game, which puts her at 24th in the nation.

Schulz said Hahs gets a lot of her blocks in the help position where she is blocking players coming into the lane.

“She’s got long arms, she’s fast and she can appear out of nowhere,” Schulz said.

The Matadors shot 31.7 percent (20-63) for the game, an improvement over their last outing. But, it wasn’t enough to beat the 49ers, who shot 46.8 percent (29-62) for the night. Long Beach also grabbed more rebounds, 45 compared to 36 by the Matadors. CSUN was better from the free throw line, shooting 76.5 percent to the 49ers 66.7%. The Matadors committed a season-low 15 turnovers, compared to 18 by the 49ers.

Schulz credits the team’s point guards with the low number of turnovers in the game.

“They’re handling the ball better against the pressure,” Schulz said. “They’re making good decisions about passing in to the post.”

CSUN’s leading scorer, Whitney Ligon, was held to just 5 points in 24 minutes of play. Tonicia Tademy, the conference leader in assists with 53 for the season, didn’t have one in the game. She averages 3.53 per game.

Schulz said that since Ligon scored 40 points against Pacific, teams have been limiting her shots.

“A lot of teams put their best defender on her,” Schulz said. In turn, Ligon is forced to rush some of her shots, Schulz said.

Long Beach held CSUN to just 25 percent shooting in the first half and outscored the Matadors 34 to 20. Although CSUN improved it’s shooting to 37.1 percent in the second half and scored 36 points to the 49ers 37, the Matadors could not overcome the first half deficit.

Long Beach had four players in double-digits, with guard Karina Figueroa scoring a team-high 18 points. Guard LaTorya Barbee chipped in 13 points, while guard Tyresha Calhoun scored 11 and forward Ally Wade scored 10. Courtney Jacob pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Matadors drop to 0-16 overall, 0-6 Big West while Long Beach State improves to 4-13,2-4.

CSUN will head south on Thursday to play UC Irvine at 7 p.m.