Bryant Had Her Moments but Not in Final Minute

With starting guards Edniesha Curry and Jamilah Jones sitting in the stands in street clothes during the game against Weber State on Thursday night, Cal State Northridge tried to fill the void with diminutive freshman Shakira Bryant.

Bryant, who averages only 10 minutes, played 30 minutes at point guard and displayed flashes of brilliance, scoring nine points and making six steals and three assists.

Her three-point basket with 3:11 to play put Northridge ahead, 55-50, and completed a 22-5 run.

When Bryant assisted a basket by senior forward Neda Milic for a 59-54 lead with 2:00 to play, the game appeared in the bag.

But as is common with freshmen, Bryant gave it away as quickly as she had put her team in a position to win.

Bryant committed a foul with 27 seconds to play and Stephanie Stanger’s two free throws pulled Weber State even, 59-59. Northridge could have had the last shot, but after a nifty drive into the lane, Bryant missed a layup with 8.2 seconds to play.

Milic, whose spirited play keyed the Northridge rally, fouled Meghan Geddes on the rebound and Geddes made both free throws.

Bryant got off a 12-foot shot with one second to play, but it was partially blocked.

No one wanted to say it, but the absence of Curry and Jones was the difference. Weber State (6-11, 4-3 in Big Sky Conference play) is not nearly as talented as the full-strength Matadors.

Even if Curry and Jones patch up their differences with the coaching staff and return, which they indicated is a possibility, the damage is done. Northridge (12-6, 6-2) fell out of first place in the conference.

Realistically, only the Big Sky champion will be invited to the NCAA tournament. Montana, which defeated Northridge last week in a game that triggered the problem between Curry, Jones and assistant coaches, is 5-1 in Big Sky play.

The top six teams play in a conference tournament at the regular-season champion’s home court, with the tournament winner getting the NCAA berth.