CSUN Women Lose Control in Loss to Pomona

The term playing under control had little meaning to the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team Thursday night.

Northridge committed 32 turnovers in losing a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game to Cal Poly Pomona, 63-53, in the CSUN gym.

The Broncos, in defeating CSUN for the 27th consecutive time, exercised slightly better ballhandling skills. Pomona turned the ball over 31 times in a game marred by more wrestling for possession than three-point shots.

“It was basically a sloppy game,” Pomona Coach Darlene May said. “I didn’t think either one of us played that well. It was just not a good night of basketball for either team.”

For a while it appeared it might be Northridge’s night. Kathleen Dixon’s basket with 8:35 remaining capped a spirited second-half rally by Northridge and tied the score, 45-45. After trailing, 33-24, at halftime, CSUN outscored Pomona, 21-12, in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

“When we were tied, I really felt like we could have pulled ahead,” CSUN Coach Leslie Milke said.

Pomona regained the momentum, however, outscoring CSUN, 9-2, in the next three minutes. When CSUN’s scoring started to lag, Pomona cruised to the victory.

Cathy Gooden scored a game-high 18 points to lead Pomona (14-3, 2-0 in conference play). Julie Arlotto led CSUN (7-9, 1-1) with 14 points, followed by Marianne Dixon and Kristen Brinkema with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

CSUN quickly went to work on Pomona’s lead after the halftime break. Trailing 40-26, CSUN scored eight unanswered points to close to within six points. Marianne and Kathleen Dixon led the Northridge drive, scoring nine of CSUN’s first 12 points in the second half.

The Lady Matadors could have used the Dixons’ scoring in the first half when they struggled to stay within striking distance. CSUN cut the Bronco lead to 20-18 midway through the half after Brinkema came off the bench and made consecutive three-point shots.

Pomona countered, however, with Serenda Valez, who came off the bench to score six points in the final 10 minutes of the half.

The loss ended a modest CSUN streak of six consecutive victories at home.