Long Beach State University Athletics
Fast Start by Aggies Leads to Loss in Opener
11/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
49ers Fall in Opener in Las Cruces LAS CRUCES, NM--Long Beach State (0-1) could not overcome a fast start by New Mexico State (1-0), falling 56-48 in the season opener for both clubs, including new 49er Head Coach Mary Hegarty. NMSU hit its first eight shots en route to a 60% clip in the first half and 48% for the game, leading wire to wire as pre-season Sun Belt Player of the Year Sinnamonn Garrett led NMSU with 17 points. The 49ers hit 45% for the game, as Crystal McCutcheon (Lancaster) led the 49ers with 11 points as she was one of four 49ers battling foul trouble throughout the night. Center Petra Gläser (Amtsberg, Germany) played just eight first half minutes and scored just eight points after averaging 22 points in exhibition play. Fellow post players Jennifer Baker (Riverdale, MD) and Lauren Bull (Rockford, IL) had four fouls a piece. NMSU had its own foul difficulties as each player had at least one foul and five ended the game with three or more, but benefited from a 7-for-15 clip at the free throw line by the 49ers. New Mexico State hit its first eight shots en route to a 30-22, starting the contest by hitting two three en route to an 18-8 lead. Connors hit three straight jumpers over the final five minutes to close to within 25-22 with 2:45 left. The Aggies though would close the half on a 5-0 run and never look back. LBSU shot 45% in the first half. In the first half, Connors started off with a jumper at the elbow to close to with 24-18 at 5:38, followed by a five-footer and a layup to close to within three with just under three to play in the first half. Two straight layups by Ana Marisa Perez put NMSU up 43-29 with 9:34 left after Princess Moore's driving baseline layup at 16:10 put NMSU up 34-25 as the Aggies led from buzzer to buzzer. The Beach made it interesting at the end, going on 12-2 run over the final 3:40 of the contest. The 49ers return home Sunday to host Eastern Washington at 2 p.m. LBSU will travel to Colorado State for the Coors Rocky Mountain Invite next weekend for two games. |
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