Northridge, CA—The battle continues for seeding in the upcoming Big West Women's Basketball Tournament, and UC Riverside could help lock up a top four finish with a road win today at CSUN. Tip against the Matadors is slated for 4 pm PT.
At 9-5, the Highlanders are a half game behind third place CSUN (9-4), and a game-and-a-half ahead of UC Santa Barbara (7-6). The top two seeds in the conference tournament receive a bye to the semifinals, and the three and four seeds get a bye into the first round. The 5 through 8 seeds open tournament play at Walter Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State on Tuesday, March 7.
A win over the Matadors this evening would also give Head Coach John Margaritis his 200th career win at the helm of the Highlanders. Only four other coaches in league history have recorded 200 victories with the same club.
UC Riverside has won five of its last seven games, but dropped a 73-66 decision to Long Beach State in its most recent outing (
box score/
recap).
Simone DeCoud scored 23 points in the loss, while Lauren Holt added 16 and Michelle Curry had a 13-point, 11-rebound, double-double.
After beginning conference play with wins in just one of their first five games, the Matadors have run off eight straight victories.
CSUN is holding Big West opponents to 38.3 percent shooting from the field, which is the third lowest percentage in the conference. And when there is a missed shot to be had, the Matadors are the odds-on favorites to grab it as they own grab an average of 9.6 more rebounds per game than their Big West opponents.
They are susceptible to the long ball, however, as league foes make 35.0 percent of their shots from tree-point range. The Matadors can be pressured, as they are averaging 15.8 turnovers since the start of Big West play.
CSUN's offensive efforts are led by Channon Fluker whose 17.0 points per game scoring average is tops among active players, as is her 11.7 rebounds per game. Serafina Maulupe is also averaging in double figures for the Matadors, chipping in with 13.7 points per game thanks in part to the second most made three-pointers in the league at 71.
The Highlanders are 34-31 all-time against the Matadors, but dropped the most recent meeting between the clubs, 70-67 in overtime, on February 11, 2017 (
box score/
recap).
