Curry Off, Northridge On in 70-62 Win Over Montana

Edniesha Curry was off but the Cal State Northridge kept its hold on first place in the Big Sky Conference with a 70-62 women’s basketball victory Saturday night over Montana.

Curry, who was averaging 19.7 points a game, was held to 11 points but Neda Milic and Keisha Harris each scored 16 to help the Matadors (11-5, 5-1 in conference play) rally in the second half against the five-time defending Big Sky champion.

Montana (5-10, 1-4) troubled Northridge with physical play and a zone defense that sealed off the lanes to the basket.

The Lady Grizzlies, who have won 14 Big Sky titles, led by as many as 10 points in the first half.

“We haven’t fared well against the zone all year,” said Frozena Jerro, Northridge’s first-year coach. “But we were able to make some big baskets at the end.”

Milic was most effective down the stretch, scoring eight of her points during the final 7:57.

She provided Northridge with a much-needed presence under the basket, an area Montana dominated for much of the game.

Montana took a 10-2 lead and for most of the first half was able to stay away from the speedy pace the Matadors preferred. Northridge, forced into a perimeter game, shot poorly from the outside.

But Northridge, which has won seven of eight games, picked up the tempo and broke off a 10-2 run to tie the game the game, 29-29, at halftime.

Montana finished with 19 turnovers against the Matadors’ full-court pressure defense. Northridge scored 24 points off turnovers to make up for a 37% shooting performance from the field.

“The adjustment we had to make was to put more pressure on the ball,” Jerro said. “That way they couldn’t set up their shots.”