CSUN Throws a Party at the Expense of Biola

They threw a going away party Tuesday night at the Cal State Northridge gym. The Lady Matadors said goodby to Tracy Blum, a reserve guard who averages less than two points a game.

The scoreboard operator will hardly miss her. But Blum, a junior who played her last basketball game to devote more time to physical therapy studies, was given an unforgettable send-off by her teammates.

Biola University was treated somewhat less cordially, however, and was sent away with a 66-47 nonconference loss.

Before the game, the team dedicated the night to Blum. Her sister, Carrie, sang the national anthem. Blum was mobbed by her teammates, who presented her with a bouquet of roses.

It took the Lady Matadors only seven minutes to flower.

Behind the hot shooting of Tara Flanagan and Renee Loch, Northridge buried the Lady Eagles alive, sprinting to a 21-4 lead. Coach Leslie Milke then began to clear her bench to boost scoring averages. Flanagan and Loch each scored six points during the outburst and finished with 10 apiece as Northridge improved to 7-1.

Blum scored two points, but appeared satisfied despite finishing her career without the flare of, say, a Cheryl Miller.

“This was intense,” she said. “Having my sister sing before the game was a total surprise to me. Everybody was keeping secrets from me left and right. But my teammates couldn’t be any better. I’m really going to miss them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to catch a couple of their games.”

Flanagan wishes that Blum could make it to all of them--in uniform.

“What she gives to us coming off the bench is just as important, in my mind, as a person who scores 15 points a game. She’s got spunk. She’s the type who, when she’s gone, you really notice.”

What attracted Biola Coach Betty Norman’s attention was the team play of the Lady Matadors.

“They have a great team,” she said. “This looks like one of their strongest teams ever. Each year they seem to get stronger. They appear to be building a very fine program here.”

Biola center Becky Miller continued to play impressively. The 5-11 senior, who has been named to the NAIA All-American team three times, scored 15 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 20. Teammate Lisa Jones added 15 points.

Julie Middleton came off the Northridge bench to score 10 points, and starting forward Regan O’Hara tossed in nine points and had 16 rebounds. The Lady Matadors forced 18 Biola turnovers in the first half, taking a 35-18 lead into the intermission.

The Lady Eagles are 2-4.