By Mohamed Bafakih (@Moe_Fresco):
A couple of two-win teams will face off Thursday night as San Jose State welcomes Cal State Northridge to the Event Center.
The Spartans (2-5) are coming off two down-to-the-wire games, the most recent a 87-81 loss to University of San Francisco on Dec. 1, to begin five of six games at home.
The Matadors (2-6) meanwhile have won two of their last three games, with wins against University of Arizona and SJSU’s rival, Fresno State.
CSUN is led by 6-foot-4 junior center Channon Fluker, who is averaging 16.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Her size, paired up with second-leading scorer Tessa Boagni, a 6-foot-2 senior forward who is averaging 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game will be a difference in the game.
In the Matadors’ two wins, the points leader wasn’t Fluker or Boagni, however. It was redshirt senior guard Serafina Maulupe (20 points) in the win against the Wildcats and junior guard Claudia Ramos (23) against the Bulldogs
Size and experience favors CSUN, but SJSU can put its focus guarding Fluker and Boagni inside and won’t have to worry about guarding the three-point line as the Matadors are shooting 24 percent (47-192) from downtown.
Additionally, the Matadors are turning the ball over 20 times per game and forcing other teams to commit just 11.8 turnovers.
The Spartans can’t overlook the Matadors despite their record as a big game against 19th-ranked Oregon State will follow.