SPORTSCOPE : Bronco Women Win 3 in Row, May Face Toughest Challenge

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team has played impressively in opening its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. season with three consecutive victories.

But the Broncos could receive their toughest challenge of the conference season when they play host to Cal State Northridge at 8 p.m. Friday at Poly Pavilion.

Northridge has a 6-12 overall record but is tied for first with Pomona in the CCAA at 3-0. Pomona, which has won or shared the conference title the last eight seasons, is 14-3 overall and ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II.

It will be the second meeting of the year for the teams. Pomona defeated Northridge, 83-73, in the title game of the Bronco Classic in November.

Northridge defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills, 50-43, and Chapman, 72-68, last week while Pomona scored an 83-75 win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The Broncos rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat San Luis Obispo in their closest game in conference play. As usual, the leader was senior All-American center Niki Bracken with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

The 6-2 Bracken, who scored 23 points in the second half, is averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds to lead the CCAA in both departments. Two other top offensive players on a strong Pomona front line are forward Marcine Edmonds (6-1), a senior who averages 11.8 points, and reserve center Danielle Carter (6-2), a freshman who averages 11.4.

Pomona is expected to start juniors Kelly Connelly (6-1) at forward and Stephanie Coons (5-11) and Denise Ogburn (5-5) at guard.

Northridge has been led by 5-11 junior forward Julie Arlotto, averaging 11.7 points. The Matadors have three freshmen in their starting lineup: center Sandi Olson and guards Jody Bittner and Joan Weinerth.

After the Northridge game, Pomona will visit Cal State Los Angeles in a conference match at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Cal State L.A., 1-2 in the CCAA and 7-10 overall, has been headed by junior guard Kim Eproson (5-8) with an 11.1-point average. The Golden Eagles also have an accent on youth with three 6-0 players on the front line. Forward Sabryna Welch and center Kelly O’Brien are freshmen and forward Lori Thompson is a sophomore.

Linebacker Jeff Gustin of Azusa Pacific University, the school’s all-time leader in tackles, has been named to the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II Football All-American second team.

Gustin, a 6-1 and 215-pound senior who played for Charter Oak High in Covina, had received honorable mention on the NAIA squad as a sophomore and junior.

He finished his senior season with a school-record 118 tackles and also recorded 3 1/2 quarterback sacks, 11 tackles for losses, two pass interceptions and one fumble recovery. In his career, he registered 370 tackles, 34 tackles for losses, 19 quarterback sacks, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a linebacker at Azusa Pacific who’s had the kind of career over a four-year period that Jeff’s had,” Coach Jim Milhon said. “He’s been a great steadying force in our defense. He certainly deserves to be a second-team All-American, and in my book he’s better than that.”

Azusa Pacific senior safety Mark Dunn and sophomore offensive tackle Ross Ritter received honorable mention on the All-American squad.

Dunn, 6-3 and 215, posted 80 tackles and two interceptions. Ritter, 6-5 and 265, was considered the team’s top blocker on the line.

After losing two road games in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. last week, the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team is hoping for a better fortune when it plays host to Cal State Northridge in a conference game at 6 p.m. Friday at Poly Pavilion.

Northridge is in first place in the CCAA with a 4-0 record and is 9-8 overall. Pomona is 1-3 in the conference and 7-10 for the season.

Pomona was defeated last week by Cal State Bakersfield, 89-74, and 106-94 by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The bright spot for Pomona has been the play of 6-6 junior forward Terry Ross, who averages 20.9 points and 12.5 rebounds to rank among the CCAA leaders in both categories.

Three other players averaging in double figures for Pomona are junior guard Chancellor McCobb, who has a 16.6-point average, junior forward Ken Scalmanini at 11.2 and senior forward Jim Skinner at 10.8.

Northridge is sparked by senior forward Derrick Gathers, who averages 19.4 points.

Pomona also visits Cal State Los Angeles for a CCAA game at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Cal State L.A. is 1-3 in the CCAA and 8-9 overall.

Three players from Azusa Pacific University have been named NAIA Division II football scholar athletes: seniors Tim Brown on the defensive line and David Riggs at slotback and junior David Taylor at safety.

Riggs has a 3.57 grade-point average, Brown is at 3.52 and Taylor at 3.50. Players must have at least at 3.2 average to be considered for the honor.