LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Cal State Northridge defeated Long Beach State 85-75 in a women’s basketball game Saturday at Matadome. The Matadors built a 27-19 lead after the first quarter and maintained control despite a 30-point fourth-quarter surge from the 49ers. Saray White led Cal State Northridge with 19 points. Khylee Pepe scored a game-high 24 points for Long Beach State. Cal State Northridge shot 53.4% from the floor and recorded 17 assists and 17 steals. Long Beach State struggled from three-point range, making just 2 of 14 attempts, and committed 25 turnovers. The Matadors improved to 9-16 overall. The 49ers fell to 3-23.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant opening and a frantic, record-setting finish, Cal State Northridge held off a furious fourth-quarter rally from Long Beach State to secure an 85-75 victory in a Big West Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Matadome. The Matadors (9-16, 4-8 Big West) seized control immediately, exploiting a sloppy start from the 49ers to build a commanding 27-19 lead after the first quarter. Cal State Northridge’s pressure defense forced eight Long Beach State turnovers in the opening period, converting them into easy transition opportunities. The home team extended its lead to 43-30 by halftime, capitalizing on a 17-8 advantage in steals and a 46-34 margin in points in the paint for the game. Long Beach State (3-23, 2-10), which has lost eight of its last nine games, mounted an improbable comeback in the final period. Trailing 65-45 entering the fourth quarter, the 49ers unleashed a 30-point offensive explosion, largely fueled by the free-throw line. Long Beach State shot 33 for 38 on free throws overall, with 15 of those makes coming in the final quarter. A driving layup by Khylee Pepe cut the Matadors’ lead to 74-70 with just over three minutes remaining, capping a 25-9 run to start the period. The most important part of the game, however, was Cal State Northridge’s response to that surge. After Pepe’s basket brought Long Beach State within four, the Matadors executed a critical 7-0 run over the next 90 seconds to restore a double-digit cushion. Jite Gbemuotor scored on consecutive layups, the second assisted by Saray White, and Rita Nazario hit three free throws to push the lead back to 81-70 with 1:10 to play, effectively sealing the outcome. Pepe, a Long Beach native, led all scorers with 24 points for the 49ers. JaQuoia Jones-Brown added 17 points and Kennan Ka scored 14 with three blocks. But Long Beach State’s 25 turnovers, leading to 28 points for Cal State Northridge, and a 2-for-14 shooting performance from three-point range proved too much to overcome. Cal State Northridge was led by a balanced attack. Saray White, the team’s top star, scored 19 points and added three assists and three steals. Rita Nazario contributed 20 points, while Jite Gbemuotor posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Matadors shot efficiently, making 31 of 58 field goals (53.4%) and 7 of 16 from beyond the arc. The win gave Cal State Northridge a season split with Long Beach State, avenging a 62-61 loss on the road on Jan. 17. The Matadors improved to 9-16 overall, while the 49ers fell to 3-23. Both teams continue conference play next Thursday. Cal State Northridge travels to face UC Irvine, while Long Beach State returns home to host Cal Poly.

Preview: Long Beach State at Cal State Northridge LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A tight Big West Conference rematch is set for Saturday when the Cal State Northridge Matadors host the Long Beach State 49ers in women’s basketball. The Matadors (8-15, 3-7 Big West) will look to avenge a narrow 62-61 road loss to the 49ers just over a month ago, on Jan. 17. That result stands as one of the few bright spots in a difficult season for Long Beach State (3-21, 2-9). Despite their records, both teams feature dynamic individual talents. Long Beach State is led by guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown, who is coming off a 21-point, six-rebound, seven-assist performance in a loss to UC Davis on Feb. 14. Over her last seven games, she is averaging 18.7 points and 3.4 assists while logging heavy minutes. Cal State Northridge counters with forward Jite Gbemuotor, who has been a force in recent victories. She scored 19 points against Hawaii on Feb. 14 and averaged 14 points and 2.3 blocks over a recent three-game stretch that included conference wins over UC Riverside and Cal Poly. Her presence inside will be a key factor. The Matadors have struggled lately, dropping four of their last five, but have performed better at home in conference play. The 49ers, mired in a three-game skid, have found wins elusive but have shown the ability to compete with Northridge. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Matadome. The game will be a critical opportunity for both teams to build momentum heading into the final weeks of the regular season. For Northridge, it’s a chance to even the season series and solidify its conference standing. For Long Beach State, it represents a possibility to replicate prior success and snap its losing streak.