Broncos Smother CSUN In 74-63 Win

Thursday, November 8

Boise, Idaho

5:00 PM MT

Boise State

CSUN

Boise St.

Photo by: Boise State University

11/8/2018 8:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho - There was a visible confidence around Boise State in Thursday's season opener, as the Broncos aggressively smothered CSUN on both ends of the court en route to a 74-63 victory at Taco Bell Arena.

The Broncos (1-0) got out to a quick 8-0 lead within the opening 1:30, and the defensive effort made up for the ensuing lull on offense, preventing the visiting Matadors from mounting any sort of sustained attack. Forwards A'Shanti Coleman and Joyce Harrell went toe-to-toe with CSUN's posts, including two-time reigning Big West Player of the Year Channon Fluker, and challenged drives, combining for six blocks and 17 rebounds as the Matadors shot just 33.9 percent (20-for-59).

"Joyce Harrell did an outstanding job and the team behind her, we tried to play from front and back. [Fluker] still had great stats, but I think we really did a good job on her in terms of the design, and what Joyce was able to accomplish," said Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell.

Harrell finished the day with a career-high 11 rebounds to go with six points, with five of her rebounds coming on the offensive glass. Coleman finished with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting to go with six boards and three blocks.

"I knew it was going to be a challenge but just having my team on the backside helped a ton. They were yelling the whole game that they had my back. Just knowing that going into the game helps."

Senior guard Marta Hermida sparked the Bronco offense, going for a game-high 16 points and hitting four 3-pointers. She helped the Broncos pull away early in the second half, scoring nine points and going 3-for-3 from deep in the third quarter, as the CSUN defense left open shots on the perimeter while keyed in on preventing Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year Riley Lupfer from getting open looks. Lupfer finished the night with nine points and a 3-pointer.

The Broncos cooled off on the offensive end after a 4-for-6 start, finishing the opening quarter just 8-for-21 from the field and ending up at 35.0 percent (14-for-40) at halftime despite leading, 34-25. It was the Boise State defense that kept the early eight-point cushion intact, as the work of Harrell and Coleman inside, combined with two steals from Hermida, fueled an effort that limited CSUN to only nine field goals. The Matadors (0-2) missed their first eight attempts in the game, only getting on the board 3:27 into the contest on a pair of free throws from Fluker, who finished the night with a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Boise State's defense against Fluker also paid dividends, leading to a pair of key moments. With 4:11 left in the first half and the Broncos holding on to a 24-17 lead, Harrell drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Fluker, leading to a pair of Hermida free throws. On the ensuing possession, Hermida hit a corner 3 to make it a five-point swing and get Boise State's lead to 29-17.

"That was always one thing in my game that I had to improve, and I've been working on that," Hermida said about her 3-point shooting Thursday. "We have really good shooters. I tried my best, today was a good game."

3Q, 4:00; 47-36 | That's @martahh97 with her fourth 3 of the game! She has 16, and the Broncos are up 11!#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/TNzUL2d0On
— Boise State WBB (@BroncoSportsWBB) November 9, 2018

The next key turn in the game was with 7:45 left in the third quarter. Fluker, who had scored CSUN's first four points of the half to bring them within nine at 37-29, picked up her third foul, forcing her to the bench for the rest of the frame. With CSUN's top post presence on the bench, Boise State made its move, beginning with Hermida's triple with 7:07 on the clock, outscoring the Matadors, 21-14, the rest of the quarter to get comfortably ahead at 58-43. CSUN fought to within eight at 44-36 with 4:14 left in the quarter, but another Hermida 3 followed by six-straight points from fellow Spanish international Sofía Galerón got the lead to 14.

3Q, 2:00; 51-37 | Sofia Galeron scores inside from Rachel Bowers! Galeron has four-straight, and the Broncos widen the lead to 14!#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/RD9Yt9raME
— Boise State WBB (@BroncoSportsWBB) November 9, 2018

The Bronco offense would struggle again late in the fourth, allowing the Matadors to get within seven at 69-62 with 1:26 to play, but Braydey Hodgins and Lupfer combiend to go 4-for-5 from the line the rest of the way to seal the win.