Northridge Reined In by Montana in Big Sky

In the end, Montana had what Cal State Northridge needed. And what the Matadors used to have.

In a see-saw battle for the Big Sky Conference tournament title, Linda Weyler helped Montana pull away in the final five minutes and dethroned Northridge, 66-53, to claim its 11th conference women’s basketball title in 12 years before 3,890 at Montana’s Adams Center.

Montana (22-7) advanced to the NCAA tournament, thanks largely to Weyler’s performance down the stretch. In a game in which the lead changed hands 10 times, Weyler, a 6-foot-1 senior forward who is the conference’s most valuable player, had 21 points and had 12 rebounds.

Weyler scored 15 in the second half, including a jump shot that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good, 48-47, with 5:30 to play. From there, Weyler scored seven points and made a key steal to keep the Matadors at bay.

Weyler, who scored 17 points in a semifinal victory over Weber State, was selected tournament MVP.

How badly did Weyler want it?

“Bad. Really bad,” Weyler said. “I was getting yelled at to pass the ball at the end, but there was no way I was going to let that ball go. It’s a great feeling to be back on top. It’s where we belong.”

It’s where Northridge (18-10) used to be. The Matadors last season became the first team other than Montana to win the Big Sky championship, breezing to a first-place finish and winning the tournament title at Northridge.

This season, Northridge traversed a rough road to the playoffs, rallying for a second-place finish after point guard Edniesha Curry, the Matadors’ best player, quit the team in January.

Curry led the way for Northridge last season, earning tournament MVP honors and establishing herself as one of the best players in school history. She walked away this season after a loss at Montana after which she argued with Coach Frozena Jerro and her assistants.

Against Montana, Curry’s presence might have made a difference. To be sure, Weyler’s did.

“She hit some big shots down the stretch,” Jerro said. “They just came up with the big baskets when they needed them and they made a big run late.”

Weyler made five free throws in the final minute when the Matadors were forced to foul.

Lauren Cooper had 15 rebounds for Montana, which out-rebounded the Matadors, 48-39. Krista Redpath had 11 rebounds.

“We battled them down the stretch,” Jerro said. “My kids gave it all they had. We have nothing to be ashamed or disappointed about.”

Forward Neda Milic scored 12 points and was the only Northridge player selected to the all-tournament team.

Forward Lynda Amari finished with eight points, including two three-point baskets before fouling out in the final minute.

Northridge was hurt by the absence of Myesha Saleem, who received a blow to the head in the first half and did not return. Saleem suffered a mild concussion, Jerro said.

“As a team, we overcame a lot this season,” said guard Jamilah Jones, who quit with Curry but returned a week later. “A lot of us, at first, didn’t think we could get this far with all the things that came into play in the latter half of the season.”

The Matadors took an 8-2 lead on Jones’ three-pointer, but Montana went ahead, 11-10, and led, 23-21, after a slow-paced first half.

Northridge began the second half with a 10-0 run but the Grizzlies countered with eight consecutive points to pull even, 31-31.

From there, the score remained close, with each team taking the lead three times.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BIG SKY

TOURNAMENT

At Adams Center

In Montana

Women’s Final

Montana 66,

CS Northridge 53

Men’s Final

Northern Arizona 85

CS Northridge 81

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* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE MEN FALL TO NORTHERN ARIZONA, PAGE 1