Long Beach State University Athletics
Bull Wills Beach Into Semifinals
3/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Bull Wills Beach Into Semifinals ANAHEIM, CA-- Senior Lauren Bull did not want her career to end, just yet. The Long Beach State forward scored a career-high 17 points and picked up seven rebounds in leading the fifth-seeded 49ers (14-15) to a 58-55 win over fourth-seeded Cal Poly (14-14) at the Big West Conference Tournament on Thursday. The Beach will face arch nemesis and top-seeded UC Santa Barbara in the Semifinals at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday at noon. LBSU has not beaten the Gauchos in the last 25 meetings. The 49ers had not beaten Cal Poly in both regular season meetings this season, but have now eliminated the Mustangs in each of the last four Big West Tournaments. Candice Wilson added 12 points, while Crystal McCutcheon added 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Jayme Connors grabbed 12 rebounds and added nine points. LBSU shot 42%. Courtney Uphoff led the Mustangs with 14 points and six rebounds, while Anderson added 10 points and five assists. Cal Poly shot just 30% for the game. Uphoff's three-pointer with 38.3 seconds left brought Cal Poly to within 56-55, but would get no closer. The 49ers would get the ball back and Connors would miss a jumper, but McCutcheon would grab the long offensive rebound and get fouled. McCutcheon iced it with two free throws with 6.7 seconds left. Anderson took a three-pointer at the buzzer which bounced out. Connors layup would re-take the lead for The Beach, at 43-42 with 6:37 left, capping a 10-5 run by the 49ers. Two straight buckets by McCutcheon tied it at 41-41 with 8:02 left, after Cal Poly used an 11-5 run to lead 37-33 early in the second half. Cal Poly ended the half on an 11-4 run to force a tie at 24-24. LBSU shot 39%, but comittted 13 turnovers, while the Mustangs shot 23%, only committing five turnovers. Wilson's driving layup gave the 49ers a 20-13 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first, capping a 9-3 run by The Beach. The 49ers finally got some breathing room moments earlier, as Bull's 15-footer from the wing gave LBSU an 18-13 lead with 5:15 left, after a back-and-forth first half. Third-seeded Pacific will take on second-seeded Idaho at aproximately 2:30 p.m. The winners of Friday's contests will play for the Big West Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. |
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