The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team is currently 1-2 in the young basketball season but would love to go into their turkey day with a .500 record and go 2-0 in their first road trip of the year. Winning their second game will not come easy, as the Matadors face the University of San Diego Tuesday night.

An even record this early in the season may not sound important, but it is. Who wants to sit down at the dinner table with a 1-3 record? Nobody, so what do the Matadors have to do to make that dressing taste a little better? The Matador women will have to focus on a couple of areas.

First, the Matadors have some players to worry about on the opposing team. The Toreros have a big three.

Sam Child is coming off a 16-point game. She is a junior point guard out of Portland, Ore., and Child is a capable three-point shooter. She hit four out of five shots from downtown last game.

Emily Hatch is from Oregon too. She racked up 12 points and uses her forward body to score.

Also, Dominique Conners added 12 points, building on her success from last season, when she was named to the All-West Coast Conference Freshman team.

“We need to put pressure on the ball, and make sure we deny everybody else,” Matador head coach Staci Schulz said about the rest of the Torero squad.

The Matadors have to defend these players, but also continue to stay mentally sharp on this road trip. Northridge needs to continue to cut down on their turnovers, try to execute their plays every time down, and play as a team.

Last games on a road trip can be hard. Some players think it is time to get cute, and they play individual ball.

The Matadors will need their usual suspects to step up like center Jasmine Erving, guards Janelle Nomura and Bridgette Conejo, and forward Katrina Thompson. Also, different players on the bench will have to bring their A-game, like forward Bianca Davies.

So, going into the thanksgiving break with an average record may not sound glorious. However, it will make their food taste a little better and give them a fresh start coming out of the holiday.

“Getting to 2-2 is our main goal because of our first two losses,” guard Amanda Thompson said.

Tip-off is planned for 7:00 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion.