Following a 4-26 season, the CSUN women’s basketball team underwent a major overhaul that brought eight new players. Things look brighter already, as the Matadors handily defeated The Master’s College 87-53 during an exhibition game last Saturday. “We acquired quite a few kids who are going to have an impact,” said second-year head coach Jason Flowers. “They compliment the players that are already here. From top to bottom, they are a talented and hard-working group, and they enjoy being around… Read more

Story by Jonathan Andrade It was only a year ago that Haley White joined the CSUN women’s basketball team fresh out of high school and was asked to carry a heavy load at the guard position. After leading the team in assists (105) and starting 22 of 30 games, the sophomore guard returns to the court and looks to step up as one of only five returning players from CSUN’s young squad. With the injury to senior guard Bridgette Conejo… Read more

Jasmine Erving didn’t have the luxury of being raised by two parents. The 21-year-old senior only had her mother at her side. “I don’t think I missed out on anything being brought up by a single parent, so I’m lucky for that,” said Erving, center for the CSUN women’s basketball team. “I have a great mom, fortunately. My mom fulfilled the spot of being my mom and my dad. She’s my No. 1 fan.” CSUN head coach Jason Flowers, who… Read more

UC Santa Barbara and Long Beach State have had plenty of success with its 2008 freshman class, something CSUN head coach Bobby Braswell took note of. Last season Braswell brought in eight freshmen, modeling the blueprint of the last two Big West Conference champions, UCSB and Long Beach. The Matadors received major contributions from guards Josh Greene and Aqeel Quinn as the two were a main reason why CSUN advanced to the Big West semifinals and a third-place finish in… Read more

Story by Jonathan Andrade Last season’s 4-26 record wasn’t  what the CSUN women’s basketball team was looking to do during head coach Jason Flowers’ inaugural season. This season, Flowers and the Matadors are looking to bounce back and put CSUN on top of the Big West standings, beginning with the season opener at San Francisco University on Friday. “I know we’re already improved,” Flowers said. “If we can stay focused and continue to work hard, there’s no limit to how… Read more

CSUN center Ari Feldman had seen the bright lights before. The roaring crowds. Their loud cheers following the punishing of an impotent rival. It was all so familiar for Feldman Saturday at the Matadome as CSUN blew out Cal Baptist 86-51 in exhibition play. The only difference was the missing net in the middle of the court. In its place, two basketball hoops had been placed at each end. Feldman, a former middle blocker for the CSUN volleyball team who… Read more

After a surprise 2010-11 season in which the Matadors finished third in the Big West Conference and had a freshman class play a pivotal role in their success, the future looked promising. But that was quickly put on hold. The NCAA decided in May to ban Northridge from all postseason play for the 2011-12 season for its continuous subpar marks in the Academic Progress Rates (APR) report, an account that measures eligibility and retention for Division-I student athletes and is… Read more

Santa Barbara – Trailing 1-0 and down 23-17 in the second set, CSUN decided it was time to make its move Wednesday night at the Thunderdome.The Matadors scored four of the next five points, drawing them within 24-21 of UC Santa Barbara. Then they got a block, making the Gauchos cringe on the floor at the thought of a possible collapse. The cringing didn’t last long, however. The block was waved off almost immediately due to a touch of the net… Read more

Boxing great Joe Frazier died Monday night of liver cancer at age 67. It’s likely the general public will remember him best as the fighter on the losing end in two of three fights against Muhammad Ali, including “The Fight of the Century” and the brutal classic “Thrilla in Manila.” And though that’s enough for the casual observer to think Ali was the superior fighter, those who examine the sport closely will tell you neither of their legacies will ever… Read more