CSUN Women Blow 7-Point Lead, Then Lose to Pomona in Overtime

Let’s just call it “The Streak That Refuses to Die.” And play it as a horror flick in Northridge.

The No. 1-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos staged a last-minute comeback to tie Cal State Northridge in regulation, 72-72, then breezed in overtime, 88-78, Saturday night at the CSUN gym, thus keeping alive an 11-year win streak over the Lady Matadors.

Northridge led, 72-65, with 32 seconds between it and its first victory over the Broncos since 1976. The Lady Matadors then literally threw the game away with four turnovers their last six times down the floor.

Who says basketball jerseys don’t have tight collars?

In the overtime, Marcine Edmonds of the Broncos had 10 points to outscore Northridge by herself. Debra Larsen, who finished with a game-high 37, added four free throws and a jumper to account for all of Pomona’s scoring.

And so one streak dies, another lives, and yet another one begins again.

Northridge had won nine straight games at home. Pomona has won 26 in a row over the Lady Matadors. And the Broncos’ win streak against Division II competition--which reached 46 games before ending Friday in a 15-point loss to Cal State Los Angeles--starts all over again. Pomona is 8-1 in the CCAA, 21-2 overall.

Northridge (5-4, 12-10) trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but took the lead with eight minutes left in regulation. Sparked by the scoring of Denise Sitton and Kathleen Dixon, the Lady Matadors led by nine twice in the last 2 1/2 minutes.

Sitton, who fouled out with 2:54 left in regulation, finished with 24 points. Dixon had 18, and Julie Middleton had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

POMONA--Larsen 37, Edmonds 14, Bracken 14, McCoy 13, Tezak 4, Gooden 6.

NORTHRIDGE--Sitton 24, M. Dixon 10, K. Dixon 18, Middleton 14, Mallett 8, Brinkema 4.