Just like so many other times this season, time ran out with the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team behind on the scoreboard. This time, though, the end of the game also marked the end of the home season and the end of any hopes of a post season for the Matadors, who will be the only Big West team not playing in the Big West Tournament.
The Matadors lost their last home game of the season Saturday night to UC Irvine 65-61, despite another fine performance from senior center Katie Holloway, who scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. ?Holloway, the team’s only senior, was honored prior to the start of the game.
“We really wanted to get a win for her,” said head coach Staci Schulz. “But, we fell short at our last home game of a pretty rough year.”
Junior guards Ashley Blake and Whitney Ligon both scored 10 points, with Blake also making two steals. Junior guard Tonicia Tademy scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds, while dishing out eight assists and making five steals.
For the Anteaters, Christina Zdenik scored a team-high ?15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Kirian Ishizaki scored 12, while Stephanie Duda, Haley Tull and Mary Has scored eight, with Duda also grabbing 10 rebounds. ?
The Matadors shot 38.3 percent for the game, compared to 44 percent by the Anteaters. The loss drops CSUN to 1-24 (0-14 Big West) for the season. UC Irvine improves to 7-22 (3-12 Big West).
With the end of the season in sight, Schulz said Holloway will be hard to replace next year.
“We’re gonna have some pretty big shoes to fill,” Schulz said.
Holloway is the team’s leading scorer with 321 points on the season and averaging 13.4 points per game. She also leads the team in field goal percentage at 55 percent (123-for-223), free throw attempts (128) and free throws made (75). Holloway is also the team leader in rebounding with 170 so far this season, 65 of those offensive and 105 defensive. She is second to junior Crystal Hahs in blocked shots, with 33 for the season.
Schulz said she expects to see Holloway excel in her final two games of the season this week.
“She’s been consistent and she’s gotten a flare for what needs to be done,” Schulz said.
The Matadors will close out the 2008 season on the road. On Thursday night, CSUN plays UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. and on Sunday the Matadors will head to San Luis Obispo for a 4 p.m. game against Cal Poly.
