A night for a player who is averaging career numbers ended with a high note as she led her team to a victory.

Matador center Jasmine Erving scored a career-high 35 points becoming the ninth player in school history to score over 1,000 career points in a 71-65 win over the Cal State Fullerton Titans on Saturday, giving CSUN slim chances of making the playoffs.

With only five games left, three which are at home, the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team cannot afford anymore defeats. The Matadors (3-22, 3-9 BWC) are last place in the conference and every game counts.

The team has played efficiently the last few games, breaking a 16-game home losing streak with a victory over the Titans (8-17, 4-8 BWC). Erving led all scorers, also grabbed eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal for the game.

Erving is averaging a career-high in points this season with 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. She has dominated Big West play, averaging just under 20 points a game and 8.3 rebounds per game. 

The Matadors controlled the Titans for most of the game, keeping their turnovers in check with 12. For the season, Northridge is averaging 20 turnovers a game, but they managed to control the ball and the tempo by recording 20 assists on 28 field goals against Fullerton. 

“We are starting to show this conference what we can become,” forward Bianca Davies said. “In this conference, it’s any man’s game if you don’t show up to play the game.”
The Matadors are having a sense of urgency as their window of opportunity is getting smaller. 

“We feel we are in the mix, we just have to beat these remaining teams and keep playing solid basketball,” guard Bridgette Conejo said. “We have to take care of the ball and play inside out. Every possession counts and we have to continue to play like it.”

CSUN returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Matadome against the Big West Conference leader Cal Poly (14-8, 10-1 BWC).