Matadors Have Added Incentive to Play Well in Final

NORTHRIDGE — Is there any doubt the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team will be up for its game tonight against Portland State in the Big Sky Conference tournament final?

Portland State was the only team that did not vote for any Northridge player for all-conference honors, a considerable slap in the face to the team that won the regular-season title outright.

But neither Matador Coach Frozena Jerro nor the players wanted to comment after Northridge defeated Northern Arizona, 83-68, in a semifinal game Friday, obviously fearful of fueling the fire.

Guard Edniesha Curry and forward Lynda Amari were the only Matadors on the All-Big Sky team.

*

Forward Andre Larry of the Northridge men’s team wasn’t planning to watch the Matador women’s game Friday night.

But although clearly disappointed by Northridge’s 91-90 loss to Montana State in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky men’s tournament Thursday night at Weber State, Larry said he wanted to support the Matador women.

“We’re still trying to get these programs together,” said Larry, a junior transfer from Oregon. “We all need to support each other.”

*

This is the second Big Sky women’s tournament held outside Montana and the first since 1992, when former conference member Boise State was host.

Montana hosted eight tournaments, including last year’s, and Montana State hosted in 1993.

It’s the first time in the 11-year history of the tournament that No. 5-seeded Montana was not seeded No. 1 or No. 2.

*

The 64-51 loss to Portland State on Friday ended Montana’s five-year reign as tournament champion.

Montana had won every tournament since it started in 1989, except the one in 1993, when the Grizzlies lost to Montana State in the title game, 64-57.

Montana State was knocked out by Northern Arizona, 68-56, in a first-round game Thursday.

*

No attendance records will be broken at this tournament.

The four games through the semifinals on Friday night attracted an average of 541.

More than 900 showed up to watch the Matadors defeat Northern Arizona, about 610 more than the team’s average crowd at home this season.

Brian Swanson, Northridge’s assistant athletic director for external affairs, said each of the six teams in the tournament were allowed by conference rules to reserve 200 tickets, but the response was underwhelming.

“Portland State took 50 and we took 50,” Swanson said. “The other teams didn’t take any.”