Northridge Can’t Run With the Big Bulldogs

For the third time in nine years, the Southeastern Conference continued its New Year’s Eve habit of coming to Cal State Northridge and beating up on the women’s basketball team.

Mississippi State, ranked 21st, snapped the Matadors’ 16-game home winning streak, 98-64, Friday night.

Northridge lost at home on New Year’s Eve to Louisiana State in 1990, and to Kentucky in 1994.

The Bulldogs (10-0) are off to their best start in school history, which includes a victory over then No. 2-ranked Louisiana Tech Nov. 22. Coming into the nonconference game, Mississippi State had outscored its opponents by an average of 35 points.

Edniesha Curry scored 13 of her 21 points in the second half for Northridge (6-4). Curry made nine of 23 shots but only one three-pointer.

For the Bulldogs, LaToya Thomas had 33 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and four assists, and Jennifer Fambrough had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

The Matadors stayed close in the early going of the first half and trailed, 21-17, with 8:54 left. The Bulldogs pulled away from there, outscoring Northridge, 29-8, for the rest of the half.

In the first half, Northridge made only nine of 27 shots and committed 12 turnovers.