Hot and Cold Matadors Beat Montana, 57-54

Cal State Northridge did not score for the first 4:32 and did not make a basket for the final 4:31 but had enough in between for a 57-54 victory over Montana on Saturday night in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game at the Matadome.

Kristi Rose’s two free throws with 4:08 left broke a 53-53 tie and the Matadors (8-11, 4-4 in conference play) won for only the second time in six games.

“It was a great team effort and a big step forward for us,” Matadors Coach Frozena Jerro said.

“This was a big win against a good team.”

Montana (12-6, 4-3) squandered several late opportunities to tie the score.

Laura Valley made one of two free throws with 55.3 seconds left, leaving the Grizzlies behind, 55-54.

Brooklynn Lorenzen threw the ball over a teammate on the baseline with 17.4 seconds left.

After Monica Hernandez’s two free throws with 16.2 seconds remaining increased Northridge’s lead to 57-54, Lauren Cooper’s 22-foot shot hit the side of the rim as time expired.

Rose made four for 13 shots and and all seven of her free throws for 15 points and had 11 rebounds.

Reserve Sha’Tasha Allen added 15 points and ReShawnda Richardson had 12 as the Matadors defeated Montana for the third time in 10 tries.

Valley had 17 and Linda Cummings 14 for the Grizzlies.

Northridge led, 30-23, at halftime, but Montana used 6-0 and 7-0 runs to take a 39-37 lead with 13:45 left.

Following 39-39 and 41-41 ties, the Grizzlies went on another 6-0 run for a 47-41 advantage with 8:42 to play.

The Matadors responded with seven consecutive points on LaShaunda Fowler’s layup off Rose’s steal, Rose’s layup and Allen’s three-point basket for a 48-47 lead with 6:22 remaining.

Valley and Rose exchanged baskets before Cheryl Keller’s two free throws gave Montana its final lead, 51-50, with 5:15 left.

In what would be Northridge’s final basket, Fowler made a three-point basket with 4:32 to play, putting the Matadors ahead 53-51. Lorenzen’s two free throws 16 seconds later tied the score.

The Grizzlies scored the game’s first eight points, as Cummings completed two three-point plays.

Richardson and Allen each made three-point baskets during a 6-0 run, cutting the deficit to 10-8.

Northridge would lead for the rest of the half as Rose had a basket and four free throws, and Richardson a three-point basket during an 11-0 run.