Matadors Reach Sky-High With Title Clincher

A season that began with a cloud of uncertainty over the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team will finish with at least a share of the Big Sky Conference championship.

Northridge saw to that on Thursday night with a 60-47 victory over Weber State before 432 at Matador Gym.

The victory was the fourth in a row for the Matadors (18-7, 12-3 in conference play) and clinched a share of the Big Sky title with a game left against last-place Cal State Sacramento on Saturday at home.

It guaranteed that Northridge will host the six-team Big Sky tournament on March 4-6. The tournament’s winner will advance to the NCAA playoffs.

“To be champions is the greatest feeling in the world,” Northridge guard Edniesha Curry said after scoring 17 points. “We talked about being champions before the season and all during the season, and to actually have it happen is great.”

Montana State or Portland State, which play each other in a regular-season finale on Saturday, could tie Northridge for the conference title if the Matadors lose to Sacramento. But Northridge still would host the conference tournament because the Matadors were 2-0 against each Montana State and Portland State this season.

“We don’t plan on sharing anything with anyone,” Matador forward Neda Milic said.

Northridge’s victory avenged a 74-63 loss at Weber State on Jan. 23 and came nearly four months after former coach Michael Abraham was arrested before the season started for allegedly selling cocaine.

Frozena Jerro, who was about to start her second season as Abraham’s assistant, took over the program.

Weber State (11-14, 10-5) hit its first three shots of the second half to take a 30-23 lead with 18:29 to play, but Northridge went on a 17-3 run to move ahead, 40-33, with 13:19 left.

Jamilah Jones hit a pair of free throws to start the run and Natalie Jonas capped it with a basket off an assist from Milic, who scored six of her 12 points during the stretch.

“We executed in half court [Thursday],” Jerro said when asked to explain the difference between the two games against Weber State. “They like to play a half-court offense and we, obviously, like to get up and down the floor.”

Northridge was able to fast break repeatedly after forcing 24 turnovers, 19 on steals.

The Matadors held Shelley Olson, Weber State’s leading scorer with an 11.1-point average, scoreless.

Northridge made 14 of 28 shots from the field in the second half after a rocky 11 of 32 display in the first half.

It all added up to the 5-foot-5 Curry leaping into the arms of 6-1 teammate Lynda Amari at midcourt as the game ended.

“This is even sweeter because of everything that happened,” Milic said, fighting back tears. “We had to overcome so many obstacles and that makes it even sweeter.”