For Ruggiero, NCAA Might Be Cereal Killer

The college eligibility of Angela Ruggiero might be jeopardized if the gold-medal-winning USA women’s team appears on the commemorative post-Olympic Wheaties Box, an NCAA official said.

Ruggiero, a Simi Valley native, and USA teammate Jenny Schmidgall are Minnesota recruits. “Under the current rules, it wouldn’t be allowed,” NCAA director of member services Steve Mallonee said.

According to NCAA bylaws, college athletes cannot be paid and their names or pictures cannot be used to advertise the sale of a commercial product.

BASKETBALL

Cal State Northridge clinched a berth in the Big Sky Conference women’s tournament with a 62-60 victory over Weber State on Thursday night.

The Matadors (12-11, 8-5 in conference play) equaled the school record for conference victories. Northridge last won eight conference games in 1989.

Edniesha Curry’s 36 points against Weber State were a Northridge record. The freshman guard has 388 points this season, 10th on the Matadors’ single-season list. She is the first player to break into the top 10 since Northridge joined Division I in 1990.

FOOTBALL

Harvard-Westlake High running back Justin Logan and Burroughs offensive lineman Joey Learman, an All-Foothill League selection, have committed to Columbia. Harvard-Westlake tight end Eric Ferkel will attend Washington University of St. Louis.

Thousand Oaks tight end Jeff Wyly will attend UC Davis, joining former Lancers Jud Southwell and R.J. Starr.

SOFTBALL

Second baseman Amanda Melton, a four-year varsity player at Saugus High, has committed to Michigan State.