STOCKTON, Calif. (SMU) – SMU outscored Cal State Northridge 27-13 in the fourth quarter to win 68-58 in the first round of the Pacific Tigers Turkey Tip-Off Friday. Amber Bacon scored a season-high 16 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to lead the Mustangs.

Trailing 45-41 going into the final 10 minutes, the SMU defense went into lockdown mode. By the time the Matadors made their third field goal, a 3-pointer with 1:04 left in the game, SMU (3-2) had already outscored CSUN 19-6 to take a 60-51 lead before the trey. The Mustangs made 8-of-10 at the free throw line in the final minute for the 10-point win.

BriShonne Tollie, 13, and Johnasia Cash, 10, also reached double digits scoring. Tollie also grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Midway through the second quarter, Bacon and Kayla White each stole the ball off the dribble from the CSUN point guard off the dribble near midcourt, leading to back-to-back fast-break layups. The uncontested baskets gave SMU a 30-17 lead with 6:03 remaining in the first half, and capped off an 11-0 run going back to the first quarter.

The Matadors (1-6) cut the lead to four at halftime, 33-29, and scored the first seven points of the second half. After starting the game 2-of-10 outside the arc, CSUN made four of its next five 3-point attempts. The offensive spark gave CSUN a four-point lead, 37-33, before Bacon scored SMU's first points of the second half, cutting the lead to two with 5:07 left in the third.

CSUN held the lead for eight more minutes before SMU took a 48-47 lead on Reagan Bradley's driving layup with 7:10 remaining. The Mustangs led the rest of the game, matching their season high for points in a quarter with 27 in the fourth. Tollie converted an and-1 opportunity to cut what was a four-point CSUN lead to one, setting up Bradley to recapture the lead. The three-point play was the start of a 15-0 run by SMU capped off with a fast-break layup by White from Bacon, giving the Mustangs a 58-47 lead with 2:37 to play.

SMU shot 44.8 percent from the field, making 8-of-12 attempts in the fourth quarter, while holding CSUN to a 29.5 shooting percentage for the game. The Mustangs dominated in the paint, scoring 38 points in the lane compared to CSUN's 18, and the Mustangs outscored the Matadors 20-5 on fast breaks.

Reagan Bradley scored nine points with a game-high five assists. The freshman also matched Bacon with four steals. Kayla White and JaQuia White each finished with seven points, with JaQuia sinking the Mustangs' lone 3-pointer in paint-heavy offensive scheme.

With the win, SMU advanced to the championship game and will play the University of the Pacific Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT.