St. Mary’s Tops CSUN, 71-56

St. Mary’s, a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I school, had little trouble beating Division II Cal State Northridge, 71-56, in a nonconference women’s basketball game Friday in Moraga, Calif.

St. Mary’s, the defending West Coast Conference champion, built a 24-point halftime lead and increased the margin to more than 30 points in the second half. The Gaels outrebounded Northridge, 50-34.

Cheree Tappin scored 18 and Pia Paivio added 15 for St. Mary’s. Anja Bordt scored 11 points and had 13 assists for the Gaels.

Sandi Olson and Julie Arlotto, with 14 points each, were the only Northridge players to reach double figures. Arlotto led Northridge with eight rebounds.