NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN returns to the women’s basketball hardwood this week with a pair of games.

The Matadors (8-7, 1-0 Big West) host UC Santa Barbara Thursday night. Coverage on the CSUN Sports Network presented by Dignity Health begins at 7 p.m. The game is the final of six in a row that will also be available on BigWest.tv. The first 100 followers following CSUN on social media get in free to the game. It is also First Responders Day. Members of local fire, police and military (active or retired) that show a valid ID at the Ticket Office will receive four general admission tickets.

UC Santa Barbara off to a 2-0 Big West start after defeating Cal Poly 73-68 last Saturday. The Gauchos are 5-9 overall. Drew Edelman is second in the Big West in rebounding (9.5), fifth in scoring (14.3), and fifth in field goal shooting (51.3%). This is the 61st meeting between the two schools. UC Santa Barbara leads the all-time series 47-13.

CSUN will travel to Cal Poly on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup. Saturday’s game will be streamed via GoPoly.com. All links can be found on GoMatadors.com on the women’s basketball schedule page.

The Mustangs split a pair of Big West games last week and sit 7-7 to begin the week. Cal Poly has the Thursday Big West bye this week before getting ready to host the Matadors.

Dynn Leaupepe was named Big West Conference Player of the Week after averaging 35.0 points during the week. She scored 40 points in the victory at UC Riverside before going for 30 in the loss to UC Santa Barbara. She is now third in the conference in scoring at 18.4 points per game. This is the 77th meeting between the two schools. Cal Poly leads the all-time series 39-37.

The Matadors opened the Big West slate with a 70-68 victory at Cal State Fullerton last Saturday. A 16-0 run that began in the final portion of the third quarter and ran through the beginning of the fourth helped propel CSUN to the victory. Tessa Boagni scored a career high 36 points. Boagni made a career high 14 free throws in a career high 16 free throw attempts. She completed her ninth career double-double with 10 rebounds. Point guard Hayley Tanabe scored 20 points and had four assists.