Season Comes to End for Matador Women

First the lights go out on the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team, then the Big Sky Conference pulls the plug.

As a result, the Matadors’ season is over. Just like their affiliation with the Big Sky.

Northridge (9-18, 5-10 in conference play) and Eastern Washington (10-17, 5-10) won’t be settling their sixth-place tie with a game Wednesday at Idaho State. The Big Sky settled it for them.

The teams were scheduled to play to determine the conference’s final playoff spot after their game last week at Northridge was canceled because of a power outage in the first half. Northridge led, 28-17, when the game was stopped.

On Saturday, conference officials announced they erred in rescheduling the game. Eastern Washington, based on its victory over Northridge in their first meeting, was awarded the tiebreaker and will play in the Big Sky tournament Thursday through Saturday at Pocatello.

“We reviewed the Big Sky code, and the code does not allow a game to be replayed,” said Shara Cofer, Big Sky information director.

Northridge Coach Frozena Jerro understandably was not pleased. But the Matadors can’t say they didn’t have their chance.

Northridge would have clinched the berth with a victory Saturday at home against Portland State, which entered 2-13 in conference. But the Matadors lost, 54-52.

“We had a chance to get it done against Portland State and we didn’t,” Jerro said. “What’s done is done.”

Not exactly the kind of farewell Northridge and the Big Sky had in mind. Northridge will move to the Big West next season.

*

It will take more than a dislocated finger to knock Brian Heinle out of the Big Sky Conference basketball tournament.

Heinle, Northridge’s center, said he will play in the tournament this week at Northridge, despite a dislocated ring finger on his right hand sustained Saturday against Portland State.

Northridge plays a semifinal Thursday against an opponent to be determined.

X-rays taken Monday were negative, although Heinle displayed a black-and-blue digit at practice Monday. He will play with two fingers taped.

“It’s hurting pretty good, but it’s just one finger,” Heinle said. “It if was something else, maybe I’d be more cautious. I think everyone knows nothing like this is going to keep me out.”

Heinle went to the bench clutching his hand after a collision beneath the Northridge basket early in the game. He was visibly in pain as trainers spent several minutes trying to relocate his finger.

“It took two or three minutes to put it back,” Heinle said. “It hurt. I don’t even like thinking about it.”

*

The Northridge women’s tennis team is 11-0, its best start in history, entering a nonconference match Thursday against Loyola Marymount.

The Matadors began the season with a 4-3 victory over UC Irvine, ranked No. 53 nationally. Sophomore Tereza Simonyan of Yerevan, Armenia, is 9-2 and has posted victories over two nationally ranked opponents.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

MEN’S PAIRINGS

at Cal State Northridge

FIRST ROUND

Thursday, 6:05 p.m.

No. 3 Idaho State (14-13, 10-6)

vs. No. 6 Weber State (14-13, 8-8)

Thursday, 8:35 p.m.

No. 4 Northern Arizona (14-13, 8-8)

vs. No. 5 Montana State (16-13, 8-8)

SEMIFINALS

Friday, 6:05 p.m.

No. 2 Eastern Washington (16-10, 11-5)

vs. highest seeded winner

Friday, 8:35 p.m.

No. 1 CS Northridge (20-9, 13-3)

vs. lowest seeded winner

CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, 6:05 p.m.

Semifinal winners

TICKET INFORMATION

* Tournament passes are $75 (Northridge students $55). Session tickets for each day are $35 for Thursday and Friday and $25 for Saturday. Northridge ticket office hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Information: (818) 677-2488.