LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Naomi White scored 27 points and Northern Arizona used a dominant defensive performance to overwhelm Cal State Northridge 77-56 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Matadome.

The Lumberjacks, who entered the game with a 2-9 record, never trailed and held the Matadors to a season-low in points, forcing 33 turnovers and converting them into a decisive advantage. Northern Arizona improved to 3-9, while Cal State Northridge fell to 5-5.

The most important part of the game was Northern Arizona’s immediate and sustained defensive pressure, which crippled the Cal State Northridge offense from the opening tip. The Matadors committed nine turnovers in the first quarter alone and finished the first half with 20, allowing the Lumberjacks to build a lead they would never relinquish despite their own offensive struggles. Northern Arizona’s 18 steals, led by the backcourt activity of White and Audrey Taylor, consistently disrupted any rhythm Cal State Northridge tried to establish, turning the game into a disjointed affair that favored the visiting team.

White, a 5-foot-9 guard from Omaha, Nebraska, added five assists and a block in 37 minutes, continuing a streak of high-scoring performances. She was coming off a 30-point effort in a win over Park on Monday. Madison Watts, a 5-10 guard from San Pedro, California, provided crucial support with 20 points for Northern Arizona.

The Lumberjacks set the tone early, opening the game on a 10-0 run before Cal State Northridge’s Rita Nazario connected on a three-pointer nearly three minutes in. Northern Arizona led 18-11 after a first quarter defined by Matador mistakes and led 37-23 at halftime. The Lumberjacks extended their lead to 57-35 after three quarters, maintaining at least a 20-point cushion for much of the second half before a late push by the Matadors’ reserves narrowed the final margin.

Cal State Northridge was plagued by poor shooting throughout, finishing 16 of 59 from the field for 27.1% and 8 of 37 from three-point range. The Matadors’ offensive rating of 61.6 points per 100 possessions underscored their inefficiency. Northern Arizona was not sharp offensively either, shooting 44.4% from the field and committing 25 turnovers, but its defense created a significant volume of extra possessions.

Kelly Tumlin led Cal State Northridge with 10 points. Nazario, from Figueira da Foz, Portugal, finished with nine points and three assists. The Matadors’ 6-foot-3 forward Maya Contreras contributed eight points and a block in 13 minutes off the bench.

Northern Arizona’s backcourt duo of White and Taylor combined for 10 of the team’s 18 steals. Taylor, from Boise, Idaho, dished out five assists to go with her four steals. JBionna Robinson added nine points for the Lumberjacks.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 276. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Northern Arizona had a 92.7% probability to win entering the contest.

Northern Arizona looks to build momentum when it travels to face UC San Diego on Saturday. Cal State Northridge also returns to action Saturday with a road game at Pepperdine.