Milke Not Altogether Satisfied as CSUN Women Triumph by 12

The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team continued to roll through its nonconference schedule Saturday night, defeating Southern Utah State, 73-61, at CSUN.

The win was the Lady Matadors’ sixth in seven games this season, a notable improvement from last season, when they started slowly and finished with a 9-15 record.

But Coach Leslie Milke insisted that her team’s latest triumph was anything but a work of art.

“I’m disappointed in a lot of ways,” she said. “We didn’t have the killer instinct and we allowed them to get back in the game. That’s inexcusable. There’s no way it should have been that close. I’m happy that we’re winning, but we’re going to have to make some strides to be more consistent. I really wish it were a prettier win, but it is a win.”

Northridge scored eight unanswered points midway through the first half to break open a tie game and take a 19-11 lead. The Lady Matadors increased their lead to 27-17 with 5:19 left in the half, but Southern Utah then outscored Northridge, 11-3, to pull within 30-28 at halftime.

Guard Darla Hunt, who led the Thunderbirds with 14 points, tied the game at 30-30 with a short jump shot in the first minute of the second half, but Northridge went on a 16-5 run to take control of the contest, 46-35, with 11:37 remaining. Lady Matador guard Renee Loch hit three long-range jumpers and collected two assists during the spree.

Junior forward Denise Sitton paced Northridge with game-highs of 15 points and 13 rebounds. Teammate Julie Middleton, a reserve, scored 12 points, while Regan O’Hara and Tara Flanagan each added 10.

Forward Rene Ramsey scored 13 points for the Thunderbirds (1-5), who will host the Lady Matadors in the Southern Utah State Tournament on Dec. 27.

SOUTHERN UTAH STATE--Free 9; Sargent 4; Muir 8; Ramsey 13; Pressett 4; Wilkins 0; Anderson 0; Hunt 14; Levi 2; Ballentyne 5; McFalls 2.

CAL STATE NORTHIDGE--Flanagan 10; Enright 4; Reuss 2; Mallett 0; Jones 1; Glass 2; Sitton 15 and 13 rebounds; O’Hara 10; Blum 0; Loch 8; Costello 5; Middleton 12; Nino 4; Powell 0.