Matadors on Course Toward Respectability

NORTHRIDGE —  Toughened by a demanding nonconference schedule, Cal State Northridge enters the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball season with high hopes.

Or at least as high as they can be considering the Matadors finished 2-14 in the conference last season.

“We are very much on course,” Coach Michael Abraham said. “We are smaller, quicker and more athletic than the competition. I think we can surprise some teams.”

Northridge (3-6) has an opportunity to begin with a bang. The Matadors open at home against two of the weaker Big Sky teams, Portland State (3-7) tonight and Eastern Washington (2-7) on Monday.

Matador freshman guard Edniesha Curry is the most exciting newcomer to the conference. Curry leads Big Sky players with 17.1 points, 3.0 three-pointers and 2.6 steals a game, and is second with 4.7 assists.

Curry spearheaded Matador victories over Loyola Marymount, Cal State Long Beach and Virginia Commonwealth and her ball-handling has kept Northridge close in nearly every game.

The Matadors put a scare into USC before falling, 67-60, and were defeated by more than nine points only by Kansas and Miami of Ohio.

Curry, while clearly the team leader, has support.

Senior forward Tannea Nelson, who had career high totals of 21 points and 17 rebounds against USC, has improved steadily. Center Sarah Bell provides a rebounding presence and senior guard Tammie Mills is a good ballhandler and free-throw shooter.

Montana (7-4) is the clear favorite in the Big Sky, followed by Idaho State (6-4), Montana State (5-5) and Northern Arizona (6-4). Cal State Sacramento (2-6) and Weber State (0-10) are rebuilding.

“After Montana, I think it’s a tossup,” Abraham said. “Nobody is way better than anybody else.”

The Matadors, after weathering a demanding nonconference schedule, believe they are battle-ready.

“Our goal this year is to get into the conference tournament,” Abraham said. “But we aspire to be the dominant team in this conference.”