SPORTSCOPE : Cal Poly Women Seek 9th Title in Basketball

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team can clinch its ninth straight California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title with victories over Cal State Northridge and Cal State Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday.

The Broncos, ranked No. 2 behind defending champion Delta State of Mississippi in the NCAA Division II with a 19-3 record, take an 8-0 conference record into their game against Northridge at 5:45 p.m. Friday at Northridge and host Cal State L.A. at 8 p.m. Saturday at Poly Pavilion.

Northridge is Pomona’s closest competitor in conference play at 7-2 and is 10-14 overall. A victory would guarantee at least a tie for the championship for the Broncos.

But for the Broncos, a victory would have added significance because it would mark the 100th conference win for Pomona Coach Darlene May. The Bronco coach, who has the most wins ever among Division II coaches, will take a remarkable all-time conference record of 99-4 into the game.

Pomona will also be trying to extend its 12-game winning streak. The last loss for the Broncos was to Southern Utah State--a Division I team--on Dec. 18.

The Broncos easily defeated Northridge, 70-52, in the first game between the teams Jan. 26 in Pomona behind the play of seniors Niki Bracken at center and Marcine Edmonds at forward.

In fact, Bracken and Edmonds have been the team’s offensive leaders all season. Bracken (6-2), a Division II All-America selection last season, has averaged a conference-leading 19.6 points and 10 rebounds and Edmonds is averaging 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds.

Pomona has also received consistent play from reserve center Danielle Carter, a freshman who averages 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds, and guard Stephanie Coons, a junior who averages 9.5 points and 4.5 assists.

Northridge will counter with a team that has only one senior in its starting lineup, forward Deena Mulverhill. The Matadors, who will leave the CCAA after this season to move up to Division I, have been led in scoring by junior forward Julie Arlotto with a 12.6-point average.

After the Northridge game, Pomona faces struggling Cal State L.A. in its final home game of the regular season Saturday. The Golden Eagles are 1-8 in the CCAA and 7-16 overall. They are led by junior guard Kim Eproson, who averages 11 points.

The Azusa Pacific University track program will be well-represented at The Times/Eagle Indoor Games on Friday night at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood.

The Cougars, who have won an unprecedented seven straight National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics championships in men’s track, will have nine current or former stars competing in the meet.

Topping the list is Ade Olukoju, one of the premier discus throwers in the world who will compete in the shot put and the 35-pound throw in Friday’s meet.

Olukoju made an impressive showing at the British Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, on Feb. 3, winning the discus with a toss of 205-5 and finishing second in the shot put at 60-7 3/4 while competing for his native Nigeria.

Other Azusa Pacific men in field events are Tommy Daniels, Ryan McCann and Brad Bowden. Ike Mbadghua will compete in 60-meter hurdles and former Cougar sprint star Patrick Nwankwo of Nigeria in the 60-meter dash.

In women’s events, Azusa Pacific is represented by Latrese Johnson in the high jump and Kim Petway in the 400-meter run and former Cougar standout Airat Bakare of Nigeria in the 200-meter dash.

Citrus College of Glendora will also have a strong entrant in Christy Opara, a native of Nigeria and transfer from Brigham Young University who will compete in the women’s 60-meter run and long jump.

“It feels good to compete in this meet,” Opara said.