Chandler Strips Scholarships of 2 CSUN Players : Women’s basketball: Waldorf, Esparza are removed on same day school announces signing of six recruits.

Two of Cal State Northridge’s top women’s basketball players were removed from the team by Coach Kim Chandler on Wednesday night, only hours after the school announced the signing of six recruits.

Point guard Kris Waldorf and leading scorer Michelle Esparza said they were told during individual meetings with Chandler that their scholarships would not be renewed after this semester.

Waldorf, a 5-foot-5 sophomore from Gahr High in Artesia, started in all but one of Northridge’s 25 games, averaging 4.6 points and passing for a team-high 71 assists. Esparza, a 5-10 sophomore guard from El Rancho High in Monterey Park, averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and made a team-high 45 steals.

Katina Mines, a junior forward who transferred to Northridge after a standout career at Valley College, also will not be returning, team members said. Mines, who averaged 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds, has had little contact with her former teammates since Northridge’s season ended in February.

Chandler said Wednesday that she was meeting with each player later in the day and would not comment on any the status of any player until today.

Later in the day, the Northridge sports information department released the names of six newly signed women’s basketball players, including guard Sara Hagman, who averaged 24.8 points for Crescenta Valley High and set a Southern Section record by making 13 three-point shots in a game.

Of the eight freshmen, sophomores and juniors who started last season as players with scholarships, only center Maureen Batiste and guards Shannon Crouse and Carrie Dormire are set to return.

Forward Amy Horst and guard Jeannette Salazar quit early in Northridge’s 3-22 season.

Chandler’s moves did not come as a surprise to either Waldorf or Esparza, each of whom said they found their way into the coach’s doghouse because of “a personal incident off the court” that occurred during the season. Neither player would elaborate.

“It was something that came up, a mistake we made, and we couldn’t solve it,” Waldorf said. “We were never able to talk about it and get past it.”

Esparza said she did not make an effort during her meeting to dissuade Chandler from removing her.

“I just went along with it,” Esparza said. “What could I say? Her mind was made up. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me kiss up to her.”

Esparza hopes to transfer to another school, and based on her resume she should find some takers. She was selected to a preseason all-star team consisting of the nation’s top players from NCAA Division I independent teams.

Waldorf also would like to continue her career. However, she said Chandler refused to grant her an official release.

“She kicked me off the team and when I said I wanted to transfer she said, ‘No. Why should I do anything for you?’ ” Waldorf said.

“I’m not going to bad-mouth her, but I don’t understand why she’s being so vindictive about me playing somewhere else.”

Waldorf, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average, said she would like to transfer to UCLA and have the option of trying out for the Bruins as a walk-on.

Neither player said they would contest the removal of their scholarships. Schools are required by the NCAA to provide athletes with written notification when their scholarships are not renewed.

The athletes can contest the decision before a non-athletic authority at the school, according to Dan Dutcher, an NCAA director of legislative services.

Dormire, one of the trio of scholarship players returning to the team, said she was surprised that Waldorf and Esparza were removed but added that she would “stick by the coach’s choice.”

“We’re going to have a great team,” she said.