| Gators Prove Too Tough For the 49ers
LBSU Takes Early Lead, Wilson Scores Career-High 16 Points
December 1, 2002
LONG BEACH, CA — The Long Beach State women's basketball team (1-3) made it a game, but No. 34-ranked Florida (4-1) proved to be too strong, defeating the 49ers 72-69 at The Pyramid in a regionally televised game on Sunday afternoon. The Beach jumped out to an early 16-2 lead in the first half, and led for the first 18 minutes before a back-and-forth contest continued until about three minutes left in the game.
Candice Wilson scored a career-best 16 points, while Glory Johnson added 12 points, leading four 49ers in double figures. Dalila Eshe, Tara Taylor and Tamia Williams each had 13 points. LBSU shot 35% from the field, compared to Florida's 36% percentage. The 49ers outrebounded a much taller Gator squad, 58-to-46, including a career-best 16 from Johnson. Wilson fell an assist short of a triple-double, scoring 16 ponts, and adding 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The 49ers travel to Florida next weekend for the Stetson Hatter Classic on Friday and Saturday.
Two free throws by Brittany Davis extended UF's lead to 67-61 with 2:32 left. Wilson's three-pointer briefly brought LBSU back, to within 60-59 with 5:25 left before Kelly Stevenson nailed a three with 4:57 to extend the Gator lead back to 63-59.
Dalila Eshe's layup gave Florida their largest lead of the second half, at 60-54 with 6:23 left. Neither team could extend to much more than a three-point lead for much of the first 13 minutes of a back-and-forth second half.
After a 16-2 start by the 49ers, Florida closed the half with the lead, at 39-34, thanks to a 23-10 run. Both teams shot nearly identical at 37%. Tara Taylor's running jumper, at 1:55, gave Florida their first lead, at 33-32, as the Gators held onto the lead for the rest of the half. Mack's three had given The Beach some breathing room, at 32-27, with 3:12 left.
Florida went on a 23-10 run, as Tamia Williams' three-pointer with 6:42 left, cut LBSU's lead to 26-25. Two straight jumpers by Danielle Santos brought Florida within 22-18 with 9:30 left, capping a 16-6 run. Gosschalk's three-pointer with 13:45 left put LBSU up 16-2, after Sarah Stout's jumper from five-feet gave LBSU a 13-2 lead with 14:25 remaining. Florida was held without a field goal for the first seven minutes (13:17) of the game. BOXSCORE |
