CCAA WOMEN’S PREVIEW : Northridge May Have Best Chance to Finally Unseat Cal Poly Pomona

There are easier tasks for Cal State Northridge this season than dislodging Cal Poly Pomona’s stranglehold on the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Shooting baskets from half court--no, make that full court--or sinking three-point shots while blindfolded are two that come to mind.

Northridge might have better luck making trick shots than trying to end Pomona’s dominance in the CCAA. Since the 1975-76 season, Northridge has lost 26 consecutive games to Pomona, which has won six consecutive conference championships and three NCAA Division II titles over that span.

Pomona, 29-3 last season and 11-1 in the CCAA, is 119-4 in conference games in the past 12 years.

Northridge, 16-11 last season and 8-4 in the CCAA, was trounced by Pomona, 80-46, in the CCAA championship game last year. Pomona advanced to the Division II title game before losing to New Haven, Conn.

The addition of seven freshmen has tempered the expectations of Pomona Coach Darlene May, however.

“I would expect us to finish in the top four with probably Northridge and Cal State L. A.,” May said. “I haven’t seen all of the other people to know who else will finish up there.”

Pomona (11-3) is ranked fifth in Division II this year, according to a coaches poll. The Broncos, 7-2 against Division I teams, play UC Riverside in their conference opener Saturday.

Northridge (6-8) has struggled against Division I teams during nonconference play. The Lady Matadors defeated Portland State last week for their first win against a Division I opponent. CSUN has won three of its past four games going into its CCAA opener at home against Cal State L. A. tonight.

Despite her team’s losing record, Coach Leslie Milke is optimistic about Northridge’s chances of contending for the CCAA title.

“They’re finally working together and playing like a team,” Milke said. “I feel really good going into conference.”

Milke expects Cal State L. A. to vie for the CCAA title along with Pomona and Northridge. Cal State L. A., which finished third in the conference last season, is led by 6-1 junior center Lupe Quintana, a first-team all-conference selection who led the conference in rebounding last season. She is averaging 16.9 points and 10.9 rebounds a game.

“I think this team has a lot of talent,” Cal State L. A. Coach Fran Buckless said. “If we can put it together as a group, we can be right up there.”

Buckless, not surprisingly, expects Northridge and Pomona to provide the toughest competition.

“Pomona consistently gets tougher the longer the season goes,” Buckless said. “They almost run almost a Division I program at a Division II level. Northridge came in second last year and I see them right in the battle for everything.”

Guard Vicki Mallett averages 12.8 points to lead Northridge in scoring. Center Kathleen Dixon has helped Northridge since coming over from the volleyball team. She is averaging 12.4 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Bridgette Ealy averages 9.3 points and forwards Marianne Dixon and Julie Arlotto both average 8.4 points a game.

Northridge, which plays five of its next six games at home, plays host to an Australian junior national team Saturday before playing Pomona on Thursday.