Bolla Wins Over Alma Mater in OT
49ers Win 71-67 to Finish Third at Hatter Classic December 7, 2002
DELAND, FL— It took overtime, but Long Beach State (2-4) snapped their three-game losing streak and earned a split at the Stetson Hatter Classic, defeating the host Hatters (0-6) 71-67 in overtime to finish in third place in the tournament. LBSU scored the first six points of overtime and never looked back to give Head Coach Dallas Bolla a victory over her alma mater. Bolla's jersey hangs in the raftors at Edmunds Court, and it was Bolla's first trip to Stetson, as a head coach, against a team she was a star for from 1983 to 1986. Jayme Connors rebounded with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting, after a 1-for-9 night in the opening round loss to Morehead State, leading four players in double figures. Glory Johnson added 14 points and 12 points off the bench, while Candice Wilson and Jennifer Baker had 10 points a piece. LBSU shot 41% for the game. Stetson was led by 23 points from Michelle Garcia and 15 points from Joslyn Giles. The Hatters shot 39%. The Beach scored the first six points of the overtime frame to lead 65-59, as Quan's basket gave The Beach a six-point lead with 3:30 left. LBSU hit all of their shots in the extra frame, six free throws and three baskets. The 49ers battled back to tie it at 59-59 to send the game into overtime, with a chance to win. Jayme Connors though missed a 10-footer with two seconds left sending the game intot he extra frame. LBSU shot 41% in the second half, compared to the Hatters 39% shooting. Candice Wilson converted one of two free throw with 1:23 left to tie it at 59-59. LBSU came back with 15-8 run to close out the second half to tie it. The Beach took a 42-35 lead on a Connors jumper with 13:42 before Stetson outscored LBSU 16-2 over the next five minutes to take a 51-44 on a layup from Giles with 8:21 left. The 49ers led for much of the first half, before a late 10-2 run by the Hatters gave the hosts their first lead of the game with four minutes left. LBSU, who would lead 28-27 at the half, shot 36%, Stetson hit 41% of their shots. The Beach took a 19-13 lead, their largest lead of the half, with 7:10 to go when Candice Wilson stole the inbounds and laid it off the glass for two. Stetson used a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game, at 23-21, on a fastbreak layup by Michelle Garcia at 4:21. The game would remain close for the remainder of the half. as Connors' putback gave LBSU a 28-26 lead with 32 seconds left. Head Coach Dallas Bollas, who prepped at Stetson from 1983 to 1986, is still amongst the Hatters all-time leaders in games played (3rd-112), points (2nd-1,457), rebounds (1st-976), scoring average (4th-13.07 ppg), and field goal percentage (7th-47.3). The 49ers next travel to Loyola Marymount for a doubleheader with the men's team on Saturday at 5 p.m. BOX SCORE | 
