Northridge Is Set to Tip Off Season Without Distractions

It’s a cliche, but it applies perfectly to the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team: What a difference a year makes.

The Matadors took an off-the-court beating before the season even started a year ago when Coach Michael Abraham was arrested on federal drug charges.

This season, the wounds to the program have healed and the Matadors are the team to beat in the Big Sky Conference.

Northridge, which opens tonight at home against Pepperdine, was picked by the conference coaches to finish first after an incredible season in which the Matadors won their first Big Sky title.

Under Coach Frozena Jerro, Northridge amazingly finished 21-8 and 13-3 in conference play.

A two-season assistant to Abraham with no high school or college head-coaching experience, Jerro, 29, was promoted days before the beginning of the season to what seemed like an impossible situation.

Without much of a history of success to draw upon or an experienced coach to lead them, the Matadors easily could have been devastated by the controversy surrounding Abraham, who was arrested by federal agents in the school gym.

Instead, Northridge started 3-0 and won 17 of their final 20 games, rolling to their first winning season in Division I and advancing for the first time to the 64-team NCAA tournament.

The Matadors lost to Colorado State, 71-59, but that did little to tarnish the season. Jerro was selected Big Sky coach of the year and hired on a permanent basis in March.

But the surprises are over.

“We realize we can’t sneak up on anybody [this season],” Jerro said. “People are going to be gunning for us a little bit.”

Let them take aim. Junior point guard Edniesha Curry, among the Big Sky’s best players, is one of eight returning players for Northridge.

Add a handful of talented newcomers and--in contrast to last season--there’s reason for optimism.

Lynda Amari, a 6-foot-1 guard-forward, was selected along with Curry to the all-conference team. Guards Jamilah Jones and LaShaunda Fowler also return.

Top newcomers include guards Shakira Bryant from Lynwood High and ReShawnda Richardson from Pasadena College.

Jerro added assistants Michelle Cherry and Greg Adams during the offseason.

If the Matadors have a weakness, it is at the post. Senior Keisha Harris and sophomore Leah Rice both are 6-2, but the team is without two top players.

Ebony Davis, a 6-2 junior from Antelope Valley College, is ineligible until late December. Kristi Rose, a 6-4 transfer from Utah and former standout at Palmdale High, will sit out the season because of NCAA transfer rules.

That gives Jerro even more reason to look to the future. And to put the past to rest.

“I don’t really think about it in those terms,” Jerro said. “It’s all the same to us. We’re going to work really hard, regardless.”

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CS Northridge Women’s Basketball Schedule

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Date Opponent Time Today PEPPERDINE 7 p.m. Nov. 26-27 Nevada tournament TBA Dec. 4 at UC Irvine 5:15 p.m. Dec. 7 UC RIVERSIDE 7:05 p.m. Dec. 11 at UC San Diego 2 p.m. Dec. 17 DARTMOUTH 7:05 p.m. Dec. 21 at Illinois 5:05 p.m. Dec. 28 TOWSON STATE 5 p.m. Dec. 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE 5 p.m. Jan. 6 *at Northern Arizona 6:05 p.m. Jan. 9 *IDAHO STATE 2:05 p.m. Jan. 13 *PORTLAND STATE 7:05 p.m. Jan. 15 *EASTERN WASH. 7:05 p.m. Jan. 20 *at Montana State 6:05 p.m. Jan. 22 *at Montana 6:05 p.m. Jan. 26 *CS SACRAMENTO 7:05 p.m. Jan. 27 *WEBER STATE 7:05 p.m. Feb. 3 *at Idaho State 6:05 p.m. Feb. 12 *NORTHERN ARIZONA 7:05 p.m. Feb. 17 *MONTANA 7:05 p.m. Feb. 19 *MONTANA STATE 7:05 p.m. Feb. 24 *at Eastern Washington 7:05 p.m. Feb. 25 *at Portland State 7:05 p.m. Mar. 2 *at Weber State 6 p.m. Mar. 4 *at CS Sacramento 7:05 p.m. Mar. 9-11 Big Sky tournament TBA

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*Big Sky Conference game

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Northridge Roster

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No. Player Pos. Ht. Year 00 Edniesha Curry G 5-5 Jr. 5 Lynda Amari G-F 6-1 Sr. 13 Leah Rice F 6-2 So. 15 Keisha Harris F 6-2 Sr. 20 Jamilah Jones G 5-7 Sr. 21 Daphne Verrept G-F 6-0 So. 23 LaShaunda Fowler G 5-6 Jr. 24 Shakira Bryant G 5-4 Fr. 25 ReShawnda Richardson F 5-8 Jr. 31 Myesha Saleem F 6-0 So. 33 Neda Milic F 6-1 Sr. 34 Ebony Davis F 6-2 Sr.

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