Beach Have Final Tuneup Before Opener
49ers Host Love and Basketball on Saturday at 3 p.m.
November 13, 2003
LONG BEACH, CA-- The 49er women's basketball team, fresh off an impressive exhibition win last week, will have their final tuneup of the pre-season on Saturday when they host Love and Basketball at 3 p.m. in The Pyramid.
"Love and Basketball has beaten some solid Division-I teams and lost some very close games to some other strong programs," said first year Head Coach Mary Hegarty. "This will be a good test for our defense because (former UCLA Bruin) Michelle Greco is averaging close to 30 points per game this exhibition season, and it will be a challenge to our defense to control her."
L&B has gone 2-4 in exhibition play, with a pair of two-points loss at Pepperdine and at UCLA, and a three-point defeat in Palo Alto against the Cardinal. In the team's last game, on Tuesday at USC, the Women of Troy won by six. L&B's two wins have been over CS Fullerton and Loyola Marymount. Greco, a former first team All-Pac 10 selection, has averaged 26.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in the team's six contests. L&B features seven former Bruins and two former USC players on its roster.
In the 49ers' last exhibition game against the Play Mode All-Stars, LBSU shot 49% from the field as Petra Glaser (Amtsberg, Germany) hit for 32 points, while fellow post player Jayme Connors (Las Vegas) added eight points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. The 49ers won that contest 92-69.
Forward Cynetha Rush (Pontiac, MI) has begun to practice with the team and could be available on Saturday. Rush has missed most of pre-season practice with an ankle injury.
The 49ers begin the regular season at New Mexico State on November 21, before returning home to The Pyramid for their home opener with Eastern Washington on Sunday, November 23. Two season tickets are $65 for adults and $45 for seniors and youth, and available by calling (562) 985-4949.
Hegarty begins her first season at The Beach after 10 successful seasons at Chapman University, where she compiled a 160-92 (.635) record. Hegarty developed the Chapman program into a perennial NCAA participant, as the Panthers competed in the NCAA Tournament in each of the previous three seasons, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2002.
The Long Beach State has a rich tradion of women's basketball history, ranking in the top-10 for much of the 1980's, reaching 16 NCAA Tournaments, and winning 18 conference championships. |
