Chandler Retains Goal for CSUN in Her New Role

Kim Chandler, hired by Cal State Northridge as a women’s basketball assistant earlier this year, hoped to help build the Matadors into a solid Division I program.

The goal remains the same although Chandler’s role has changed in the wake of Janet Martin’s removal as head coach last Thursday.

“It’s been difficult for everybody,” said Chandler, 25, who was named Northridge’s interim coach for the remainder of the season. “(But) we’re going to try to make things as positive as possible in the program. My situation has changed, but my intent hasn’t changed a bit.”

The Matadors (0-12) fell to UC Santa Barbara, 96-68, Wednesday night, and they have lost a school record 16 consecutive games dating to last season.

The team also has been battling the flu the past week. At one point, only two players were not sick.

“The kids are starting to feel better and we’ve picked up our overall intensity in practice,” said Chandler, an assistant at Florida Southern the past two seasons. “Right now we’re just trying to get regrouped and refocused on basketball.”

RETURN DATE

Northridge guard Lisa Senette, out since Nov. 9 because of an injured right knee, might return in time for the L.A. Gear Classic at UCLA on Dec. 28.

Senette, Northridge’s most improved player last season and a projected starter this season, is undergoing physical therapy to stabilize the knee. She started the final seven games last season and averaged 11 points.

REIGN OF MONARCHS

The Valley women’s basketball program is one of the best in the state junior college ranks. The team has reached the state’s final four the previous four seasons, and, a month into this season, Valley appears just as formidable.

Valley is 10-1, thanks largely to the team’s extraordinary depth. “It’s very comforting to know that we can go 11 deep with quality players,” Valley Coach Doug Michelson said. “That’s the strength of our team and we’re using it.”

Underneath the basket, Valley uses a seven-player rotation led by forward Wendy Bruse. Four of the seven are at least 6-foot and the smallest is 5-10.

Asked before Tuesday’s Western State Conference game against Valley whom his team needed to contain to win, Moorpark Coach Mike Johnson said: “Everybody who’s wearing green and gold. And I’m not trying to be funny.”

Valley won, 69-50.

ROUGH LANDING

Sophomore forward Art Kirksey, the leading rebounder on Valley’s basketball team last season, sustained a slight fracture of a hip bone during practice Friday and is questionable for today’s game against El Camino in the Glendale tournament.

Valley Coach Jim Stephens said Kirksey was knocked off balance while going for a rebound.

OPTION PLAY

Walt Rilliet, the state junior college commissioner of athletics, said that members of the recently scrapped Pierce women’s basketball program could play for other teams in the Los Angeles Community College District this season.

The program was dropped last week for the remainder of the season because of a shortage of players.

State junior college rules allow athletes to attend one school and compete for another if the school they are attending does not field a sport in which they would like to compete.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The parents of Northridge’s left-handed, three-point shooting specialist were not born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. Rather, Brooklyn McLinn is so named because his parents favored names beginning with the letters “BR.” His older brothers’ names are Brian, Brandon and Britton.

GIBBS HOBBLED

Keith Gibbs, who leads the Northridge men’s basketball team in scoring with an average of 10.5 points a game, sustained a sprained left ankle early in the second half against Utah last Saturday. He returned to the game but is not practicing this week.

Gibbs, who is on crutches, is expected to play Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

Ron Twersky and staff writers Theresa Munoz, John Ortega and Wendy Witherspoon contributed to this notebook.