MASTER'S NOTEBOOK MASTER'S MAKES NAME FOR ITSELF ON COURT ERIN BUESCHER, LAKERS PENBERTHY GIVES MUSTANGS EXPOSURE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

NEWHALL - The Master's College continues to get noticed nationally on the basketball court.

Surprising Lakers rookie Mike Penberthy has made people notice the talent pool produced by the school's men's basketball program. Now, senior guard Erin Buescher is getting the women's team some publicity.

Sports Illustrated interviewed Buescher and members of her family for an upcoming story on the UC Santa Barbara transfer. Buescher leads the 21st-ranked Mustangs in most statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots.

Buescher is thriving in her new NAIA school after starring for three years for the Division I Gauchos, who reached the NCAA Tournament last season.

``It will be interesting to see. I'll be just as curious as everyone else,'' Buescher said. ``The reporter asked a lot of questions . . . (about) the reasons for transferring.''

Master's sports information director Jack Mutz is excited about the media attention.

``With Mike Penberthy being a Laker and now a girl like this going into Sports Illustrated. . . . For a school like ours, a small Christian college, having those kinds of athletes, it's really big,'' Mutz said. ``It's great for the area. Great for the school. Over the years, we've had some kids do real well. And it's nice to see them get to that level.''

Buescher and Penberthy are having a geographic impact in the Santa Clarita Valley.

``We love that people can know what our school's about. Nobody knows where The Master's is at,'' senior guard Karen Gormley said. ``Having Erin here is awesome. It's a good thing for us.''

Coach Ken Sugarman doesn't seem to mind.

``We're having a great time having her,'' Sugarman said. ``It's a really good opportunity for our kids. Our school. To be able to express what our school's all about. People are always (saying) `The Master's College? What's that?' ''

Penberthy and Buescher are providing the answers to the question.

--Not panicking yet: The Mustangs men's basketball team's streak of seven consecutive NAIA National Tournament appearances is very much alive, even with a less-than-glamorous 9-6 record and a perilous 23rd spot in the Top 25.

As in independent, the Mustangs can help their chances of a tournament bid with a glossy record. But they've also played their way into the nationals despite losing 11, 12 and 13 games from 1997-99.

``We just want to play well,'' coach Bill Oates said. ``We're focusing right now on trying to play as well as we can and do the things that we're capable of doing. And that's all it is. Whatever results (we get) from that, we'll take. We want to play a little bit better with more consistency.''

--Back in action: The Mustangs' men will play at the Grand Canyon University/Trip Sports Classic on Dec. 29-30 in Phoenix. They also hope to get forwards Jimmy Mackey and Valentino Richardson back.

The brothers have been in their native Bahamas to be with their ill father.

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Mike Penberthy made the unlikely jump from Master's College to the L.A. Lakers and giving the small school big-time exposure.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer