CSUN Women Face Davis in NCAA Regional

The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team has been invited to play in the NCAA Division II West Regional.

The Lady Matadors, who are enjoying their best season ever, will play UC Davis at home Saturday night at 7:30. The winner will play defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona in the regional championship game Tuesday night at Pomona.

Northridge, which finished in a three-way tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn., lost to Pomona, 69-61, in the championship game of the CCAA tournament Saturday.

Pomona has beaten Northridge 21 straight times, dating back to January, 1976.

UC Davis and Northridge have already met twice this season in tournaments. Northridge won both games, beating the Aggies, 78-73, in November and, 82-74, in December.

Northridge (19-8 and ranked 14th in the nation) is led by center Tara Flanagan. The 6-0 senior was the only Northridge player named to the All-CCAA first team, which was announced Tuesday.

Flanagan led the team in scoring with an 11.7 average. Her .823 percentage from the free-throw line was the best in the conference.

Lady Matadors Regan O’Hara and Renee Loch were both named to the second team.

O’Hara, a sophomore forward, was third on the team in scoring with an 11.2 average and led Northridge in rebounding with an 8.2 average.

Loch, a senior guard, tied Shelli Mosby’s school record for assists in a season with 113. She also scored 9.3 points a game and was among the conference leaders in shooting percentage (.546).

Forward Denise Sitton (11.6 points a game) and guard Lori Costello (8.0) were given honorable mention.