| No. 9 CSU Bakersfield 63, No. 8 CSUN 62 (OT) |
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HENDERSON, Nev. (March 8, 2022) — The inaugural event at the Dollar Loan Center was a fitting open to the brand-new arena. The 2022 Big West Best Sixth Player award winner Vanessa Austin converted an offensive rebound with 0.8 seconds remaining in overtime as CSU Bakersfield defeated CSUN 63-62, in the first round of the 2022 Hercules Tires Big West Women's Basketball Championship, presented by the Hawaiian Islands.
Austin recorded her seventh career double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) in 26 minutes on the court and Jayden Eggleston equalled a career-high 29 points on 10-19 shooting from the field (3-5 three pointers). Eggleston can also claim a unique distinction as the first basketball player to ever score on the court at The Dollar Loan Center with her reverse layup to open the contest.
The Roadrunners led by 13 points early, but the Matadors battled back. CSUN took its first lead of the contest 30 seconds into the fourth period, 36-35. A triple from Miracle Saxon then flipped the lead back to CSU Bakersfield. The score was tied at 52 apiece with one minute left in the game, and a scoreless final minute of regulation forced the bonus period. Austin's rebound and finish in traffic off one foot would send CSU Bakersfield into the quarterfinals, where they will meet up with regular-season champion Hawai'i (17-9, 13-3 Big West).
The Matadors hit 9-of-13 of their attempts from beyond the arc in the second half and overtime. They were led by Tess Amundsen’s 24 points (4-8 from three) and Jordyn Jackson (19 points). The game featured five ties and 10 lead changes.
The Roadrunners and Rainbow Wahine are set to tip at noon PT on Wednesday at the Dollar Loan Center, and the game will be aired on ESPN+ and SiriusXM.
| No. 7 Cal State Fullerton 70, No. 10 Cal Poly 64 |
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HENDERSON, Nev. (MARCH 8, 2022) — Trailing by one point at the half, a three pointer by Kathryn Neff gave Cal State Fullerton a lead it wouldn’t relinquish on the way to a 70-64 victory over Cal Poly in the first round of the 2022 Hercules Tires Big West Women's Basketball Championship, presented by the Hawaiian Islands, at the Dollar Loan Center.
The Titans were led by the Big West's 2022 Best Hustle Player Carolyn Gill’s 16 points. Gabi Vidmar added 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three and Ashlee Lewis finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Cal State Fullerton got off to a strong start on both ends of the court and went into the second quarter with a 14-5 lead. Cal Poly would come back in the second quarter to take a one-point lead into halftime.
Julie Neilacna of Cal Poly was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points. Maddie Vick (14 points) and Maddie Willett (13 points) also posted double-figure efforts for the Mustangs in their season finale.
Cal State Fullerton improves to 11-17 and advances to the quarterfinals play No. 2 seed UC Irvine (19-10, 14-4 Big West) at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday on ESPN+. Cal Poly finishes the season at 3-22.