BASKETBALL : Drecksel’s CCAA-Leading, 3-Point Shooting Little Consolation to CSUN

Cal State Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy is an outspoken critic of the new three-point shot. And with good reason.

In Northridge’s first 12 games, opponents made 52.7% (48 of 91) of their three-point attempts.

Meanwhile, the Matadors are about average among California Collegiate Athletic Assn. teams at converting three-pointers. Northridge has made 42.2% (27 of 64) three-point attempts--fifth in the eight-team conference.

Guard Paul Drecksel, whose 54.5% is the best in the CCAA among players with more than 30 three-point attempts, has taken more than half of the team’s attempts, making 18 of 33.

Cal State Los Angeles, Northridge’s opponent in its conference opener at home on Friday, has had the most success among CCAA teams converting three-point shots. The Golden Eagles are 45.2% (38 of 84) in their first 10 games.

Gary Abraham was expecting a letdown. Instead, he got the highlight of his first season as women’s basketball coach at Moorpark College.

The Raiders were coming off a 79-56 win over Allan Hancock in the Western State Conference opener Saturday. Already, attention had turned to today’s game with conference favorite Ventura.

So when Golden West arrived at Moorpark on Monday with a 17-0 record, Abraham wasn’t expecting any miracles. He got one anyway.

Moorpark, with nine freshmen and no player taller than 5-11, beat Golden West, 74-70, behind 24 points from Debra Rabin and 21 points and 15 rebounds from Karina Hardman.

And Abraham’s team isn’t looking young and innocent anymore.

“We have 17 games under our belts, and the freshmen are turning to sophomores by now,” he said. “We’re really coming around now. We had a tough early season schedule, and I think that helped us out.”

Included in the nonconference schedule was a tournament game against Ventura, which Moorpark (9-8, 1-0 in conference) lost by six points. The rematch is 4:45 p.m. today in Moorpark.

Michelle Stevens, most valuable player in the Marmonte League as a senior at Westlake High in 1985, may be available to the Pepperdine women’s basketball team by the end of the month, according to Sports Information Director Mike Zapolski.

Stevens, a 5-9 sophomore guard, is recuperating from surgery on both knees. She appeared in only five games last season before being injured, averaging 4.6 points and two rebounds a game.

Stevens has petitioned the NCAA to make last season a redshirt year, meaning she would not forfeit a season of eligibility. A decision is expected at the next West Coast Athletic Conference meeting.

Pepperdine, 9-5 this season after going 7-21 in 1985-86, plays Texas-El Paso on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Malibu.

Valley started 1-13, which is shabby by most standards. But to its credit, Valley has lost to some of the better JC teams in Southern California. The Monarchs’ preseason schedule included Moorpark (10-6), Glendale (15-2), Canyons (11-8) and Santa Monica (10-6).

The addition of Mitch McMullen has given the Canyons basketball team more height, which it lacked last season. The 6-10 transfer from Point Loma Nazarene adds balance to a team that already has 6-8 Anthony Hines. Hines, who last season was an all-conference center, has moved to forward. For the Cougars, the chemistry is working.

McMullen is averaging 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game, and Hines is averaging 13.5 points and 13.8 rebounds. Hines leads the area in rebounding.

Canyons’ Ed Williams leads the area in assists with an 8.3 average.

Canyons (11-8) is ranked No. 15 in Southern California by the JC Athletic Bureau. Western State Conference rivals Glendale (15-2) and Ventura (15-2) are ranked Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.

An injured knee will keep CSUN starter Pat Bolden out of action for five weeks. Bolden, a junior, had averaged 8.7 points a game. Bolden was injured last week in the Matadors’ 70-59 loss to Cal State Hayward.

The Valley College women’s basketball team is ranked No. 6 in the state by the JC Athletic Bureau. Under Coach Jim Stephens, the Monarchs are 10-3. Tenth-ranked L.A. Trade Tech will play at Valley at 5 p.m. Wednesday.