Northridge Not in Sync but Comes Out Ahead

Maybe it’s a sign of how far the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team has come.

On a night when the Matadors didn’t have their best offensive performance, they still had more than enough.

Even though leading scorer Edniesha Curry spent much of the game in foul trouble, Northridge coasted to a 70-47 victory Thursday night over Portland State in a Big Sky Conference game before 278 at the Matadome.

It is only three games into the conference season, but Coach George Wolfe of the Vikings (4-10, 2-1 in conference play) is already convinced about the Matadors (9-4, 3-0).

“They’re the class of the conference,” Wolfe said. “Everyone uses that cliche. But they’re not winning just because they’re athletic but because they’re disciplined.”

Coach Frozena Jerro of Northridge, whose team moved into sole possession of first place in the conference, thinks it’s too early to place that label on the Matadors.

She was concerned that her team made 21 turnovers.

“That’s something we still need to work on,” Jerro said. “When we start to get in the 20s, that’s way too much.”

But that seemed like a minor point of contention considering the way the Matadors played in other facets of the game.

There was the defense, which forced 29 turnovers and limited the Vikings to 36.4% shooting (16 of 44).

They contained guard Karrin Wilson, one of the premier three-point shooters in the conference.

Wilson, who ranks fourth all-time in three-point baskets in the Big Sky, made two of five three-point shots and finished with eight points.

The Matadors held Wilson scoreless in the second half.

“That was one of our focuses,” Jerro said. “We made a point not to let her get open looks in the second half.”

With Curry in foul trouble nearly the entire second half, her teammates were there to take the initiative.

LaShaunda Fowler came through with one of her best offensive efforts of the season with 11 points.

Jamilah Jones and Keisha Harris each finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

“That’s an important thing with this team that people can pick up for each other like that,” Harris said. “If somebody’s off, there’s always somebody else ready and willing to contribute.”

Even though she was in foul trouble, Curry made an impact before fouling out in the final minute.

Not only did she score 12 points, including 11 in the second half, she also finished with 10 assists for her second double-double of the season.

That left another impression on Wolfe, who watched his team lose to the Matadors for the fourth consecutive time in less than two seasons.

“We didn’t let her hurt us from a shooting standpoint,” he said. “But with her assists she was still responsible for 32 points. That says a lot about her as a player.”

Not to mention the rest of the team, which offered another demonstration why they are the conference favorite.