CSUN drops afternoon matchup against Idaho

NORTHRIDGECALIFORNIA – CSUN Women’s Basketball fell to the Idaho Vandals 68-52 on Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena. In her first active game since November 24, Erica Aspajo recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also had nine assists. Kelly Tumlin Led CSUN with a career-high 16 points and five made field goals from distance.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first quarter there was an even game between both teams. CSUN started the scoring with one Yves Cox Layup assisted by Jenna Kilty to give the Matadors their first lead of the game. After a floating jumper and three-pointer from the Vandals, Tumlin made her first of three shots from downtown, tying the game at five apiece with 8:07 left in the quarter. Idaho would then go on a 7-0 run, but the Matadors were unfazed. Aspajo came into the game for the first time in 27 days and the Spaniard made an immediate impact.

Aspajo assisted on two straight Tumlin three-pointers when the scoreboard read 14-13 with 4:39 remaining in the Vandals’ favor. Aspajo would then get her third assist on the next play on a pick-and-roll play with Cox, giving the Matadors a 15-14 lead. Two Laini Dahlin Free throws then extended the lead to three with just about three minutes left in the quarter. Good defense was played for the rest of the period as Idaho hit a layup and two free throws to give the Vandals a header into the second round.

In the second quarter, Tumlin hit a three-pointer after an Idaho basket, her fourth of the game and the third basket assisted by Aspajo. This shot would tie the game with just under a minute played. The Vandals’ Olivia Nelson would hit a jump shot to cap the visitors’ 10-4 run, but CSUN quickly answered. The Matadors responded with a 9-0 run of their own when Aspajo hit a jump shot with 2:49 left in the half to give CSUN a three-point lead, 33-30. After a couple of baskets were made by both teams, CSUN went into the locker room with a 35-33 lead.

2ND HALF

In the third quarter, the tide began to turn towards the Vandals. Idaho began the quarter with an 18-2 run, capped by a jumper from Hope Hassmann with 3:09 remaining. Hassmann was the game’s top scorer with 18 points. Thanks to a layup by, CSUN was able to get to the bottom of the net again Erica Adams. Idaho then responded with a successful jump shot from Sarah Brans, extending the Vandals’ lead to 14, 53-39. During the game there were back and forth exchanges on both sides, but in the final quarter the score was 58:43.

With 7:06 left in the fourth quarter, CSUN took the lead thanks to a layup Nnenna Orji. After a sweater made by the vandals, Morgan Edwards hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 13, 62-49, with 5:14 to play. There was good defense from both teams in the fourth quarter as only 19 points were scored between the two teams.

CSUN held Idaho to just 10 points in the fourth, but the Matadors just couldn’t get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. Idaho would end the game on a 6-3 run as time was running out for the comeback. The final buzzer sounded as Idaho found the win column.

• Tumlin scored a career-best 16 points in the game while also hitting five three-pointers, a career-high, surpassing her previous high of three points scored in three different games.
• Aspajo made her presence known as she returned to the ground. In her first appearance since November 24th against San Jose State, the Spaniard almost achieved a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. She also had a season-best six steals.
• Edwards scored 12 points and scored in double figures in four of her last five games.
• The Matadors were nearly perfect from the free throw line and took a 7-8 lead.

According to head coach Angie Ned

“We did a great job scouting and executing offense in the first half. Today was our first game back with all healthy players. I am very confident that we can continue and improve as a group. We have to be focused and committed. “What our goals are, if we improve in areas like rebounding and turnovers, that will lead us to success in the long run.”

NEXT

The Matadors enjoy a holiday break before returning to the Big West against Cal State Fullerton on January 2nd at 6 p.m. The first game of the new year will air on ESPN+ with Jill Painter-Lopez in conversation.

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