SPORTSCOPE : Cal Poly Men Cagers Aim to Return to Winning Ways

After two straight losses to NCAA Division I opponents, the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team hopes to get back on the winning track against two lower division teams tonight and Saturday at Pomona.

The Broncos, who lost to Southern Utah State and UC Berkeley to drop to a 1-3 record, meet Pomona-Pitzer at 7:30 tonight and UC Davis at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Both games are at Kellogg Gymnasium.

Pomona-Pitzer, a Division III team, takes a 1-3 record into the game. Davis, a Division II squad, is 1-1.

The Broncos were soundly defeated by their Division I opponents, dropping a 112-94 decision to Southern Utah and falling 95-72 against California.

However, the Broncos have received outstanding play all along from 6-6 forward Terry Ross. The junior scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Southern Utah and added 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way against California.

Pomona, which does not have a senior in its opening lineup, will also start juniors Ken Scalmanini (6-4) at forward, Rafael Vargas (6-7) at center and Chancellor McCobb (6-3) at guard and sophomore D. J. Norman (6-1) at the other guard spot.

The Broncos will face a Pomona-Pitzer team that is also struggling. The Sagehens, defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions, won their season opener over Swarthmore of Pennsylvania, 66-62, but have lost their last three games.

The Sagehens are paced by 6-2 senior guard David Todd, who averages 18.7 points. Davis, Pomona’s Saturday opponent, is sparked by junior forward Matt Cordova. The 6-3 Cordova averages 16 points.

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team will attempt to remain undefeated when it meets UC Santa Barbara at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Poly Pavilion.

Pomona will take a 3-0 record into the game. Santa Barbara is 2-0. The Broncos defeated Santa Barbara, 66-60, last season.

The Broncos, who reached the NCAA Division II final last season, will be facing their second straight Division I opponent. Pomona defeated Weber State, 70-68, in its last game.

The victory over Weber State was a milestone for Pomona coach Darlene May, who record the 400th victory of her college career. May, in her 16th season as a college coach, has a 400-91 record--a brilliant winning percentage of .815. That also tied her for fourth with Joanne Bracker of Midland Lutheran on the list of all-time women’s leaders in wins.

On the court, Pomona has been led by 6-2 senior forward Niki Bracken. An All-America selection last season, Bracken scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Weber State.

In addition to Bracken, the Bronco starters are juniors Kelly Connelly (6-1) at forward and Stephanie Coons (5-11) and Denise Ogburn (5-5) at guard and senior Marcine Edmonds (6-1) at center. Pomona also has an impressive freshman in reserve in 6-2 center Danielle Carter, an All-CIF performer at Fontana High last season.

Santa Barbara will counter Pomona with good size on its front line including 6-4 sophomore center Susie Matthews.

Citrus College in Glendora will play host to the eight-team 1989 California Community College State Women’s Volleyball Tournament that starts Saturday in the school’s gym.

Games will start at 9 a.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.

The double-elimination tournament will include four teams from Northern California and four from Southern California. First-round pairings have yet to be determined.