NORTHRIDGE, Calif. ? The CSUB women's basketball team never trailed but had to hang on for dear life at the end to upend Big West Conference foe Cal State Northridge 69?65 at the Matadome in Northridge Wednesday night.

CSUB evened its record at 6?6 with the win. But despite leading for the final 27 minutes, the Roadrunners had to fight to the end to earn the victory in their final game before the Christmas holiday. CSUB led by 13 at 63?50 with 5:55 remaining, but the Matadors raced back to get within two at 67?65 in the final minute before a pair of Roadrunner free throws sealed the win.

The game probably shouldn't have been that close, but poor free throw shooting and turnovers at critical junctures gave Northridge life just when it looked as if Bakersfield was going to run away in the second half.

After taking their 13?point lead, the Roadrunners scored just four points down the stretch. They also missed three late free throws -- including the front end of a bonus situation -- with an opportunity to keep the Matadors at arm's length.

Leading 67?65, however, Kelley Tarver made one free throw to get the lead back to three points before the defense stepped up to force a long, desperation three?pointer on the ensuing Northridge possession. Christine Kepenekian cleared rebound and made a final free throw to end Matador hopes.

Senior forward Naomi Johnson led Bakersfield with her fourth double?double of the season, scoring 19 points to go along with a game?high 10 rebounds. Kepenekian, playing just minutes from her home town of Burbank, added her third career double?double with 13 points and 10 boards.

Analee Viena?Lota scored a career?high 21 points off the bench to lead Northridge. Forward Crystal Hahs played 35 minutes off the bench and added 16 points for the Matadors.

Bakersfield returns to action Dec. 28 when it play Loyola Marymount in the opening round of the Hilton LAX Holiday Tournament. The Roadrunners will face either Kansas State or Arkansas?Little Rock on the second day of the tournament.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (6?6 overall) -- Belt 3-8 0-0 6; Stribling 2-4 0-0 4; Johnson 6-10 6-10 19; Tarver 6-15 4-6 16; Arase 1-4 6-6 9; West 0-4 0-0 0; Jones 0-0 0-0 0; Kepenekian 5-9 1-5 13; Leon 0-0 0-0 0; Carter 1-5 0-2 2. Totals 24-59 17-29 69.

CS NORTHRIDGE (0?9 overall) -- Davies 0-3 0-0 0; Holloway 3-6 2-2 8; Ligon 2-8 6-8 11; Tademy 1-5 0-0 2; Blake 1-7 0-0 2; Thompson 2-5 1-4 5; Viena-Lota 9-12 3-3 21; Hall 0-1 0-0 0; Hahs 8-13 0-1 16. Totals 26-60 12-18 65.

Halftime: CSUB 33-27. 3-point goals--CSUB 4-11 (Kepenekian 2-5, Johnson 1-1, Arase 1-1, Belt 0-1, Tarver 0-1); CSUN 1-11 (Ligon 1-4, Tademy 0-3, Blake 0-4). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--CSUB 43 (Johnson, Kepenekian 10); CSUN 37 (Holloway, Viena-Lota 9). Assists--CSUB 10 (Arase 5); CSUN 18 (Tademy, Blake, Thompson 5). Total fouls--CSUB 17, CSUN 21. Technical fouls--None. A-244.