CCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW : As Northridge Struggles, Pomona Appears Headed for Yet Another Title

Last season, for the sixth time in the 1980s, Cal Poly Pomona played in the NCAA Division II championship game. The school also won its eighth consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title, yet there was talk that the Lady Broncos’ reign in women’s basketball might end this season.

After all, Cal State Northridge had split two games with the Lady Broncos during the regular season last year, breaking a string of 29 consecutive losses to Pomona, and had pushed them to the limit before losing, 83-82, in overtime in the West regional title game at Pomona.

And the Lady Matadors (22-9 last season) had two returning All-CCAA selections in juniors Bridgette Ealy (first team) and Julie Arlotto (second), while Pomona was losing Cathy Gooden (16.2 points, 5.5 assists a game), the CCAA most valuable player, to graduation.

When Northridge (3-12) opens conference play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (6-8) tonight at 7:30, however, Pomona, ranked fourth in Division II, again will be favored to win the CCAA.

Although the Lady Broncos (11-3) have lost Gooden, three starters--Niki Bracken, Carrie Egan and Stephanie Coons--have returned.

Bracken, who averaged 20 points and 8.7 rebounds a season ago, leads conference players in scoring (19.7) and rebounding (9.9). Coons is averaging 4.1 assists.

Northridge, meanwhile, has struggled without Ealy, who is redshirting after suffering a hamstring injury early in the season.

Sans Ealy and the 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds she averaged last season, the Lady Matadors have lost 11 games by 10 points or more and six by at least 20.

Arlotto leads the team in scoring with an 11.7 average but has not been as productive as she was last season when she averaged 13.1.

Freshman point guard Joan Weinerth is averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 assists and a conference-leading 2.6 steals for Northridge.

Northridge will play host to Cal State Dominguez Hills a week from Friday.