CSUN Defeats Bethesda in Thrilling Season Opener

The CSUN Matadors made a remarkable debut in their 2025–26 women’s basketball season, achieving a decisive victory against Bethesda University. The final score of 103–13 was recorded during the match held at the Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, California, on Tuesday evening.

Season Opener Highlights

This thrilling season opener showcased the Matadors’ dominance. Eleven players contributed to the scoring, and they established a commanding lead right from the start.

• The first half concluded with Bethesda unable to score, resulting in a halftime score of 52–0.
• CSUN shot an impressive 44% from the field, making 14 three-pointers throughout the game.

Defensive Performance

Defensively, CSUN excelled by exploiting Bethesda’s turnover issues. They forced a staggering 31 turnovers, leading to 38 fast-break points. In the first quarter alone, the Matadors caused nine turnovers, setting a strong tone for the match.

• Bethesda converted only four baskets out of 44 attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of just 9%.

Key Players

Sophomore Laini Dahlin led the Matadors with 19 points, including five three-pointers in the final quarter. Other standout players included:

• Rita Nazario: 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
• Maya Contreras: 13 points and 10 rebounds, achieving the season’s first double-double.
• Morgan Edwards: 11 points with two steals.
• Amya Moody: 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Jite Gbemuotor contributed significantly, leading with 16 rebounds in her debut.

Historic Victory Margin

This victory marked a historic moment for the Matadors. Their 90-point margin of victory is the largest in the program’s history, surpassing the previous record of 67 points set on February 3, 1977, against UC Irvine.

Coaching Remarks

Head Coach Angie Ned expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance. She highlighted their effective ball movement and teamwork while emphasizing the need for further improvement, especially defensively, as they approach future games.

Next Match

CSUN is set to face the San Diego Toreros on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The upcoming match will take place again at the Premier America Credit Union Arena and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can access additional statistics on Emegypt.