The Matadors (1-20, 1-7 Big West) will face UC Riverside at the Matadome tonight. Riverside comes into the match-up at 11-9 overall and 4-3 in Big West competition.
Three different players are averaging over 10 points a game for the Bears (I think it should be Highlanders, no?), which includes Alyssa Morris (12.4 points), Tre’Shonti Nottingham (12.3 points) and Brittany Waddell (10.5 points).
The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team will have a busy night controlling the Highlanders as they have averaged 74.4 points per game in their last five wins. The Matadors are coming off their eighth loss in row and look to hold down home court for their first win in the Matadome with only four games remaining there.
“I feel like we play better away, but regardless we are going to play hard and do what is expected of us,” said sophomore Bridgette Conejo.
Last season, the Highlanders beat the Matadors by at least 10 points in the two meetings between them. Junior Jasmine Erving and sophomore Violet Alama, the only players averaging over 10 points per game this season for CSUN, will lead the team in hopes of ending the eight game losing streak.
The Matadors will travel to UC Irvine (12-8, 4-4 Big West) on Saturday for the final game of that series at 4 p.m. CSUN will get a second chance to redeem themselves after a disappointing performance when they failed to hold onto an 11-point lead, losing a close one, 59-53.
Northridge have yet to play a complete game effort against Big West opponents. UCI demolished the Matadors in the second-half outscoring them 29-4.
“UCI has good post players, we need the team to give a full effort for 40 minutes, limit our turnovers and put the ball in the basket,” said CSUN head coach Jason Flowers.
CSUN led the game 34-23 with 16 minutes left when UCI exploded to take a 52-38 lead with five minutes left.
Northridge hasn’t displayed a full 40-minute effort and a better performance from its bench, which was outscored 19-3 in the first meeting. If the Matadors can limit turnovers and play hard defense the Matadors should have a great chance to beat UCI on their home floor.
The Matadors did manage to shutdown Anteater star Mikah Maly-Karros, who leads the Big West Conference in scoring and rebounding. They held Maly-Karros to 12 points and 10 rebounds before she fouled out.
