Curry Puts On a Floor Show as Matadors Win

Edniesha Curry last season led the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team in scoring, assists, free throws, three-point baskets, field goals, free-throw percentage and minutes played.

This season, Curry is back--on the court, at least.

And so are the Matadors.

Northridge, defending Big Sky Conference champion, continued its fast start with an 88-62 rout of UC Riverside on Tuesday night before 183 at the Matadome.

The Matadors (4-1), taking command early, forced 28 turnovers and made 54.9% of their shots, including 60% in the second half.

In the thick of things, as usual, was Curry, the Matadors’ flashy junior guard and most valuable player of the Big Sky tournament last season.

Curry scored 21 points, led the Matadors with seven assists and made several circus passes while dribbling through traffic.

After the game, Curry made a fast break for home without talking to the media, leaving her coach to praise her talents.

“She’s improved every year she’s been here,” Coach Frozena Jerro said. “By her senior year, she’ll have the complete package.”

The Matadors, who advanced to the Division I playoffs for the first time last season, played solidly behind Curry--despite the absence of forward Lynda Amari, who did not join the team until halftime because she was taking an exam.

For Northridge, which won its third in a row, this season’s mission is to prove last year was no fluke.

“I’m sure there are some teams out there thinking that,” Jerro said. “And that’s the thing we’re out to prove this year. We did what we did last year because we were talented.”

This year, the Matadors are not only talented but deep.

All 11 players scored, including Amari, a senior and the team’s second-leading scorer last season.

Amari entered the game with 9:52 left and Northridge leading, 67-51. She finished with five points, including a three-point basket.

“I like the fact that everybody got significant minutes,” Jerro said. “That’s the luxury of coaching this team. I have anyone I can go to, any one of the 11.”

Forward Leah Rice, an emerging force, had 18 points, scoring most of her baskets uncontested from the low post on passes from Curry.

“This year’s team is the same as last year with a lot of very talented additions,” Rice said. “It seems like everyone improved 100%.”

Northridge fell behind, 6-0, but the tide soon turned. LaShaunda Fowler triggered a 10-2 run with a steal and layup. Fowler scored six points during the run, as the Matadors took a 10-8 lead.

Northridge put together a 12-0 run that included four points each by Rice and Myesha Saleem.

Curry scored nine points and had four assists in the first half.

Amari arrived to find the Matadors leading, 39-33, at the half.

“I was thinking about [the game],” Amari said. “Everyone in my class was saying, ‘Don’t you have a game tonight?’ ”

Curry opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer from the corner and Northridge began with an 11-2 run.

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* SWEET 16: Pepperdine will play UCLA in round of 16 Thursday in NCAA women’s volleyball tournament. Page 8