Curry Calls It Quits but Matadors Roll On

The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team won without standout guard Edniesha Curry on Wednesday night.

The Matadors had better get used to the idea.

Curry, the Matadors’ scoring leader and among the best players in school history, shocked players and coaches this week by quitting the team “for personal reasons,” Coach Frozena Jerro said.

Without Curry, Northridge breezed to a 76-52 victory over Cal State Sacramento in a Big Sky Conference game at the Matadome. The Matadors (12-5, 6-1 in conference play) took an early lead, built a 41-21 halftime lead and coasted to their sixth victory in seven games against the last-place Hornets (3-13, 1-4).

But the mood was darkened by the absence of Curry, a junior guard and most valuable player of the Big Sky tournament last season. Her departure casts a cloud of uncertainty over the Matadors’ chances of repeating as conference champions.

“We’ll just have to step it up,” Jerro said.

Jerro said Curry left the squad Monday. The coach declined to elaborate but said Curry has not left school. Jerro said she does not expect Curry to return.

“She just said she intended to leave for personal reasons,” Jerro said.

Senior guard Jamilah Jones, Curry’s roommate, also left the team for personal reasons but is expected to return, said Jerro, who labeled Jones’ situation “a leave of absence.”

“I was surprised and definitely disappointed,” Jerro said. “There was no indication. It’s not just losing a player, but when you lose someone who can make that type of an impact . . . it’s a huge blow for us.”

Curry, a graduate of Palmdale High, is the Matadors’ career leader in three-point baskets and is among Northridge’s all-time leaders in several statistical categories. With 1,254 points, Curry ranks third in career scoring, 147 behind leader Denise Sitton.

Curry led Northridge in scoring in 10 games this season, including a 24-point performance on Friday in a 60-46 loss at Montana. She averaged 15.3 points a game, and led the Matadors with 67 assists.

Last season, Curry led Northridge in virtually every offensive category while leading the Matadors to their first Big Sky title. She scored a career-high 40 points against Loyola Marymount.

Jerro and players said they were unaware of any incident that led to either player’s decision.

“People who were not used to playing big minutes are going to have to get used to playing more,” Jerro said.

Freshman Shakira Bryant replaced Curry against Sacramento State and had 11 assists, most of any Northridge player this season.

“I’m ready to play,” Bryant said. “I came here ready to play. It’s a big shock to lose two players. But the games aren’t going to stop. We have to roll on.”

Lynda Amari had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Northridge and Leah Rice had 17 points and six rebounds.