Latvian Team to Test CSUN Women Early

With its opener a little more than two weeks away, the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team will test its new-look offense against the Latvian national team in an exhibition game tonight at 7 at Matador Gym.

Northridge, in its second year of NCAA Division I competition, has nine returning players from last season’s 10-17 team, including versatile guard-forward Bridgette Ealy.

Ealy, a 5-foot-8 senior out of Fontana High, led Northridge in rebounding (7.2 per-game average), assists (4.6), steals (2.5) and field-goal percentage (.502) and was second to graduated forward Julie Arlotto in scoring with an 11.1 average in 1990-91.

Although second-year Coach Janet Martin is expecting much of the same from Ealy, Martin does not anticipate a one-player production.

“(Ealy) feels that she’s got more of a complementary group around her,” Martin said. “This year it’s not going to be just Bridgette.”

The Matadors averaged slightly more than 60 points a game last year, so Martin decided to replace a set-up game plan with a motion offense designed to utilize quickness on the wings and screen plays in the half-court game.

A key to the plan’s success will be the play of returning center Sandi Olson, a 6-2 junior from Vacaville, Calif., who averaged 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds last year, and Christine Rumfola, a senior from Burbank High and Valley College who will start at No. 2 guard.

“Bridgette, Sandi and Christine need to be up in double figures,” Martin said, referring to scoring totals. “We won’t win any games by one person coming out and doing all the scoring.”

Senior guard Dawn Broline, who started 15 games last year, will direct the offense at point guard, and Roz Linton, a 6-foot junior transfer from Valley, rounds out the starting lineup.

The Latvian team, which features seven players 6-foot or taller, opened its 12-game, 13-day trip Wednesday with a 72-66 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

Forward Diana Skrastina, a 6-2 forward who scored 22 points against Santa Barbara, paces Latvia’s prolific outside game. Anita Eglite is a formidable player inside. The 6-3, 19-year-old center grabbed 16 rebounds against the Gauchos.

The Matadors, whose schedule this season includes games against USC, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State, will open the regular season Nov. 25 against visiting Cal State L.A.