Jerro Has Played Her Cards Right

By guiding the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team to a 19-7 record, interim Coach Frozena Jerro already ranks fourth in school career victories.

“I feel like I inherited this wonderful poker hand,” Jerro said. “I had a great hand, I just needed not to screw it up.”

Jerro is four victories behind the coach she replaced, Michael Abraham, who was 23-59 in three seasons with the Matadors.

She took over the program before the season started, when Abraham was arrested for allegedly selling cocaine.

Northridge, seeded No. 1 in the Big Sky Conference tournament after winning the regular-season title, needs two victories to reach the NCAA Division I playoffs for the first time.

The Matadors meet sixth-seeded Northern Arizona tonight at 7:30.

“It’s such a realistic goal for us,” Jerro said. “When you can actually taste it and when you know you have the tools to make it happen, it’s a great feeling.”

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What’s this, a Ventura College reunion?

Forward Lynda Amari of Northridge, guard Kara Newman of Northern Arizona and center Brianna Kanongata’a of Weber State were starters on Ventura’s state championship team in 1996-97.

Newman and Kanongata’a, who played at Rio Mesa High, also helped the Pirates to the state title the season before.

“Kara and I are still real close,” Amari said.

Amari, an All-Big Sky selection, averages 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Kanongata’a averages 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, and Newman averages 3.0 assists.

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There has been no place like home for Northridge this season.

The Matadors have a 10-game winning streak at home, where they are 12-1. They lost to Yale, 74-64, on Nov. 25.

The Matadors have not won that many home games since the 1986-87 team was 11-1 under Leslie Milke. Northridge played then in the old California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Northridge’s record for consecutive home victories is 11 from 1985-87.

The Matadors have another factor in their favor. Northridge and Portland State, seeded No. 2, are the only Big Sky teams with winning records on the road--the Matadors at 7-6, the Vikings at 6-5.

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Fox Sports West 2 will televise the tournament’s championship game on Saturday on a delayed basis at 10 p.m.