MATADORS HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION; MEDIA FASCINATED BY TEAM'S SUCCESS.

Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer

USA Today interviewed them, along with newspapers in San Jose, Denver and Phoenix.

Everybody was interested in the Cal State Northridge story. The same questions women's coach Frozena Jerro answered four months ago were being asked again.

Only this time, Jerro had more than a drug arrest to talk about.

``On Monday, (CSUN player) Edniesha Curry and I were on the phone for at least an hour (giving interviews),'' said Jerro. ``Before, we knew what it was about. It's good to finally talk about our accomplishments and not something negative.''

The arrest of former CSUN head coach Michael Abraham for drug trafficking just a week before the season began in November had been a dead issue with the Matadors by February. After all, they were winning games and bonding as a group after the turmoil.

But when CSUN won the Big Sky Conference regular season title, then the conference tournament, Jerro knew she was going to have to talk about it again.

CSUN (21-7) is here to play in the NCAA Women's Tournament for the first time in school history. The Matadors, seeded No. 15, play second-seeded Colorado State (31-2) tonight at 9:07 p.m. on ESPN2.

Halfway through Thursday's press conference, after she and players Jamilah Jones and Lynda Amari were asked about the controversial start to the season, Jerro showed a sense of humor.

``Once things kind of fell into place and we knew what our situation was going to be, it was a little easier to comment on it,'' Jerro said. ``It's (funny) the way we keep saying `it' and `what.' That's what makes this an intriguing story.''

Jones said the Matadors' season has been ``astonishing.''

``We're here,'' she said. ``It's an amazement to all of us.''

Amazing is Jones talking about the team preparing for ``a fourth season,'' meaning the NCAA Tournament. Forget the Abraham arrest. This program was among the worst in the nation from 1994-97, winning a combined 10 games, including just one in 1994-95.

CSUN hasn't had this much attention for women's basketball since, well, November.

``What we're trying to do is not downplay the fact that we're here but not allowing it to be a distraction,'' Jerro said. ``Not getting so excited and so amazed that it's distracting to us. It's just another big game.''

It's the biggest in school history against an opponent hungry for a trip to San Jose for the women's Final Four.

Colorado State is ranked No. 7 in the country and features All-American guard Becky Hammon, a senior averaging 22.6 points per game. The Rams were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year at Purdue, 77-63.

Hammon was asked to recall the scene in the locker room after last year's season-ending loss.

``There were a lot of tears,'' she said. ``I remember this feeling of saying `It's not going to happen next year, it's not going to happen next year.' ''

CSU head coach Tom Collen, who has led the Rams to a 55-8 record in two seasons, anticipates CSUN to put on a full-court press and not shy away from an up-tempo game.

``I've been aware of (CSUN) all year,'' Collen said. ``I've followed their scores. I can guarantee you Cal State Northridge will not be overlooked.''

CSUN vs. COLORADO STATE

Time: 9:07 p.m., Moby Arena, Ft. Collins, Colo.

TV/Radio: ESPN2; KCSN-FM (88.5).

CSUN (21-7) update: The Matadors' NCAA Tournament history (CSUN appeared in the Div. II tournament in 1989) begins tonight in front of an anticipated sellout crowd of 8,600 and a national television audience. The Big Sky-champion Matadors have won seven in a row by an average margin of victory of 15.7 points. CSUN probably will guard All-American guard Becky Hammon with sophomore Tina Greer, who was second in the Big Sky in steals. Sophomore G Edniesha Curry (18.6 ppg) has led CSUN in scoring in 10 of the last 12 games.

Colorado State (31-2) update: Hammon has won nearly every honor she is eligible for this season, most notably the All-America first-team. She is not only CSU's leading career scorer, with 2,662 points, but she is the Western Athletic Conference's all-time leading scorer, male or female. The Rams, who are ranked No. 7 in the nation, are coming off a 65-49 loss to SMU in the WAC tournament final. Their only other loss of the season was 80-75 to Cal in the Oakland Tribune Classic on Dec. 21. CSU is 9-1 against NCAA Tournament teams this season.

- Chris Branam

CAPTION(S):

2 Boxes

Box: (1) TODAY'S GAMES

(2) CSUN vs. COLORADO STATE (See text)