It’s Official: Curry Won’t Be Returning

Student-athletes quitting teams is a fact of life.

Tuesday, Edniesha Curry went from being star to statistic.

Curry, arguably the best-ever women’s basketball player for Cal State Northridge, finally severed ties with her team, a week after walking off the court and only hours after deciding not to return.

Curry and Coach Frozena Jerro met Tuesday to discuss differences that led to their quarreling during the season and Curry being dismissed from practice last week.

“It was very amicable,” Jerro said. “A lot was being said through the media, and we just wanted to sit down face to face and talk. There are no hard feelings on either side. I don’t think [Curry] was happy with what she was doing.”

Jerro plans to meet Friday with guard Jamilah Jones, who quit with Curry last week. Jones said she would like to return and Jerro said she would welcome her back.

“I’m going to come back,” Jones said. “I just needed a break.”

Curry, a 5-foot-5 junior guard and most valuable player of the Big Sky Conference tournament last season, expressed a desire to return to the Matadors, provided she and Jerro could resolve their differences.

If Curry decides to transfer, she must sit out one season, according to NCAA rules.

Curry left the team after she and Jerro argued after a loss at Montana on Jan. 21. Two days later, Curry was asked to leave practice, and the next day she told Jerro she was quitting.

On Tuesday, Athletic Director Dick Dull met with Jerro and came away in support of the coach.

“We have excellent leadership in Coach Jerro and I see no reason to intrude,” Dull said. “A student-athlete relationship is best left up to the coach. Student-athletes leaving teams happens all over America.”

But the departure of a player of Curry’s caliber will not go unnoticed. Or without ramifications.

With Curry blossoming as a sophomore, Northridge rolled to its first Big Sky title and NCAA tournament berth. Curry entered this season in possession or within range of many school records and the Matadors were tabbed to repeat as conference champions.

Northridge started fast, but the Matadors (12-6, 6-2 in conference play) have lost two of their last three games, including a 61-59 loss at home Thursday to Weber State while Curry and Jones watched from the stands.

Northridge, which plays at Idaho State on Thursday, has slipped to second place.

“That may be a good thing for us,” Jerro said of the challenge facing the team. “Maybe we need something to rally around. You don’t ever want to lose a player like that. It’s like losing a member of the family.”

Curry’s position of point guard will be shared by freshman Shakira Bryant and sophomore Daphne Verrept.