LOCAL WOMEN'S ROUNDUP: CSUN TITLE BID GETS HARDER.

Publicly, the Cal State Northridge women's basketball team isn't giving up its dream of winning the Big Sky Conference. But as the frustration over another noncohesive effort mounts, players acknowledge their dream is becoming more difficult.

Even hosting the Big Sky tournament is a pipe dream after Thursday night's 77-56 home loss to Montana State.

``We don't trust each other. I don't know why,'' center Kristi Rose said. ``It's very frustrating to know we have the best athletes but we're not the best team. We don't play together.''

Mathematically, CSUN (7-11, 3-4) is very much alive, since it trails first-place Idaho State by three games with nine to play.

Enough time, you say? Well, consider Northridge has five conference road games remaining, including Weber State, Montana State (now 11-6, 4-2), Montana and Northern Arizona - all of which are ahead of the Matadors. CSUN spends the entire month of February on the road, except for Feb. 8 against Idaho State. The Matadors are 3-7 on the road and 4-4 at home.

Besides, how can a team entertain thoughts of winning when it spends most of the first half with more turnovers than points?

Myesha Saleem's putback with 2:40 to play in the half gave Northridge its 19th point, surpassing the 18 turnovers amassed to that point. CSUN finished the half with 19 turnovers, more than in six CSUN games and more than Montana State's 16 for the entire game. The Matadors finished with 31.

Saleem and ReShawnda Richardson scored 13 points each to lead CSUN. Saleem also had 16 rebounds, and Rose had 10 rebounds but just five points.

- Lee Barnathan

--Oregon State 71, UCLA 58: Former Crescenta Valley High star and Daily News Player of the Year Michelle Greco scored a game-high 25 points in a losing effort for the Bruins (3-14, 2-4) in a Pacific-10 Conference game at Oregon State (11-5, 3-3).

The host Beavers, led by Felicia Ragland's 23 points and 10 rebounds, led by as many as 25 points in the second half before a Greco-sparked rally got UCLA within nine points with 1:37 to play.

--USC 55, Oregon 53: Ebony Hoffman recorded her first double-double of the season, totaling 19 points and 17 rebounds, to lead the visiting Trojans past the No. 20-ranked Ducks, who were led by Brianne Murphy's 12 points.

--The Master's 66, Concordia 54: Lesley DuBois had 20 points and Tori Olson added 19 to lead the host Mustangs, who broke a 42-42 tie with a 12-5 run midway through the second half at Bross Gym.

Jordon Whittington added 12 points, five assists and a game-high 10 rebounds for The Master's, which led 29-27 at halftime.