Northridge Women End Losing Streak to Pomona

Was it the confidence boost?

Perhaps it was the fact that the victory was over the second-ranked women’s basketball team in Division II?

No, said Leslie Milke, Cal State Northridge coach, the best thing about Thursday night’s 67-61 victory over Cal Poly Pomona was that no longer will she be asked about . . . the streak.

The Lady Matadors had lost 29 games in a row to Pomona, which already had clinched the championship of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. Northridge’s only previous win over Pomona came on Jan. 20, 1976.

“I am so glad that I won’t be asked about that stupid streak every year,” Milke said. “That’s the biggest monkey off our backs.”

Chris Cavalin and Bridgette Ealy combined for 41 points as the 17th-ranked Lady Matadors improved their record to 19-7, 7-4 in the CCAA.

Pomona, which also had won 29 consecutive games against CCAA teams, fell to 21-5 overall.

By winning, Northridge assured itself of not having to meet Pomona, which has won every CCAA title, in the first round of the conference tournament March 2.

“From a player’s standpoint, if this doesn’t put them on a high, I don’t know what would,” Milke said.

The Lady Matadors are now likely to receive a Division II playoff invitation even if they fail to automatically qualify by winning the CCAA tournament.