CSUN Women to Face Pomona in CCAA Final

The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team advanced to the championship game of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament, defeating Chapman, 63-60, in the first round Friday.

Northridge (16-10) will face Cal Poly Pomona (25-2), the CCAA regular-season champion, in tonight’s final at 6. Pomona defeated San Luis Obispo, 72-49, in the other semifinal Friday night.

Senior forward Denise Sitton had a game-high 25 points, including 17 in the second half, as CSUN rallied from a six-point halftime deficit.

It was CSUN’s third victory over Chapman in as many meetings this season. On Jan. 23 the Lady Matadors beat Chapman, 74-68, and on Feb. 13 defeated Chapman, 61-60. Sitton scored 22 points in the first game and 26 in the one-point win.

In last year’s opening round of the CCAA tournament, CSUN beat Chapman, 58-57, after trailing by five points at halftime.

“We’ve beaten Chapman a few times over the past couple seasons, but we’re not tired of beating them,” CSUN Coach Leslie Milke said. “This was a good game. I wish we could have beaten them by more than that.

“Last year’s tournament game was real similar to this one. It was almost the same situation, with us trailing at halftime. But we come on real strong in the second half. Our players knew it was do or die. Either they played better in the second half or it was all over. That makes us play tougher.”