March 15--Cal State Northridge's women's basketball team, and forward Ashlee Guay, pulled off a double Saturday.
The Matadors repeated as Big West tournament champions with a 67-60 victory over Hawaii at Honda Center, clinching an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Guay scored 22 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player for the second consecutive season.
Northridge (23-9), which finished second to Hawaii in conference play, lost to South Carolina, 73-58, in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. The tournament pairings will be announced Monday.
Guay made eight of 18 shots. She also had six assists and five rebounds. Guay scored seven of Northridge's first nine points in the second half to help keep Hawaii (23-8) at arm's length.
Hawaii closed to within four, 50-46, with seven minutes left. Northridge's Janae Sharpe scored eight of her 20 points down the stretch.
The Matadors shot only 21% but played smothering defense. They forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 15 points. Northridge turned the ball over only nine times.
Megan Huff had 16 points and Destiny King 13 for Hawaii.
chris.foster@latimes.com
