BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The Roadrunner women's basketball team played 40 minutes of uneven basketball and Cal State Northridge exploited their vulnerability in a shocking 73?72 upset Thursday night at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield.

Senior center Katie Holloway grabbed her 10th rebound of the game and scored her 25th and 26th points on a put-back layup with 2.2 seconds remaining to lift CSUN (1?21 overall) to the victory. Bakersfield (10?14) had one final chance to pull out the win, but threw away the ensuing inbounds pass.

After leading by as many as 12 points in the second half, the 'Runner defense disappeared as Northridge stormed back behind the offensive play of Holloway, who at 6?4 had five inches on the tallest Roadrunner. Holloway was 9-of-12 from the field in the second half, helping the Matadors turn a 49?37 deficit into a late 71?67 lead.

Bakersfield fought back in the final minute, retaking the lead when Nikhol West grabbed her own rebound after a Holloway block, finished a layup and was fouled with 23 second remaining. Leading 72?71, however, West couldn't convert the three?point play, setting up CSUN's dramatic finish.

CSUB started slowly and didn't take its first lead until midway through the first half. A 9?0 run turned an 18?14 deficit into a 23?18 lead. But the Roadrunner couldn't build on that momentum and led by just four, 37?33, at the break.

Bakersfield opened the second half on a 12?4 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 49?37. This time, the Matadors responded with a quick 9?1 run of their own to get the CSUB lead down to a manageable four points, and Holloway did the rest.

In addition to Holloway, Tonicia Tademy passed for a career?high 11 assists for CSUN.

Christine Kepenekian scored 21 points and Kelley Tarver added 20 to lead CSUB. Senior center Naomi Johnson, playing in her penultimate home game, added 13 points and a game?high 16 rebounds.

CSUB will close out the home portion of its first full NCAA Division I schedule Saturday when it hosts fellow Division I Independent member UT?Pan American at 7 p.m.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (1-21 overall) -- Holloway 12-16 2-6 26; Ligon 5-16 5-6 16; Thompson 7-11 0-0 14; Hahs 5-14 1-1 11; Viena-Lota 2-7 0-0 4; Tademy 1-4 0-1 2; Blake 0-2 0-0 0; Howard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-70 8-14 73.

CSU BAKERSFIELD (10-14 overall) -- Kepenekian 9-19 1-3 21; Tarver 7-20 5-5 20; Johnson 4-8 5-7 13; West 2-6 1-3 5; Stribling 1-6 2-2 4; Arase 1-3 0-0 3; Carter 1-2 0-0 2; Belt 1-5 0-2 2; Leon 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-71 14-22 72.

Halftime--CSUB 37-33. 3-point goals--CSUN 1-6 (Ligon 1-4; Hahs 0-1; Blake 0-1), CSUB 4-10 (Kepenekian 2-4; Tarver 1-2; Arase 1-1; Belt 0-2; Johnson 0-1). Fouled out--CSUN-Thompson, CSUB-None. Rebounds--CSUN 47 (Holloway 10), CSUB 45 (Johnson 16). Assists--CSUN 17 (Tademy 11), CSUB 7 (Tarver 4). Total fouls--CSUN 21, CSUB 15. Technical fouls--CSUN-None, CSUB-None. A-737.