49ers Look to Remain Perfect in BWC Play
LBSU Welcomes CSUF and UCR to Walter Pyramid
January 16, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE
GAME #16 - CS FULLERTON
GAME #17 - UC RIVERSIDE
CS Fullerton at Long Beach State • Thursday, Jan. 19 • 7:30 PM • Walter Pyramid
UC Riverside at Long Beach State • Saturday, Jan. 21 • 2 PM • Walter Pyramid
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV)
11-5, 4-0 Big West
Home: 8-1 • Away: 3-4 • Neutral: 0-0
What's Hot...
1. The 49ers at Home
Long Beach State is 19-3 over its last 22 home games dating back to Nov. 24, 2004. Also in that span, LBSU has knocked off two ranked opponents (Houston, Dec. 20, 2004, 54-52 and USC, Nov. 23, 2005, 51-46). The 49ers are 8-1 at home this season.
2. Defense
Opponents are shooting just .355 against the 49ers this season. LBSU ranks No. 1 in the Big West (No. 14 in the nation) in field goal pct. defense. Long Beach State also ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring defense (59.9). The 49ers held the league's scoring leader, Cal Poly, to 18 points under its season average, after their 78-58 win on Jan. 9.
3. Conference Play
Long Beach State is 4-0 in Big West play for the first time since the 2002-03 season. LBSU opened that season with five straight league wins.
4. Offense
The 49ers are averaging 78 points per game in league play, and dropped a conference-high 102 points at CS Northridge on Sunday (Jan. 15). LBSU has won 7 of its last 8 games and have averaged 74 points per game in that span. The 49ers rank No. 2 in scoring offense (68.5 ppg).
5. Karina Figueroa
The freshman guard has posted four straight double digit scoring efforts, and is averaging 14.5 points per game in league play. Figueroa has also compiled 15 assists and seven steals in conference play this season.
Quickly:
The Long Beach State women's basketball team (11-5, 4-0) looks to remain perfect in conference play when it hosts CS Fullerton (5-10, 3-2) on Thursday, Jan. 19 and UC Riverside (4-10, 1-4) on Saturday, Jan. 21 from the Walter Pyramid. LBSU leads the all-time series over CSUF, 58-28, dating back to the 1965 season. In fact the 49ers have won 13 of the last 14 meetings vs. the Titans since 1999. The Beach is 7-3 all-time vs. UCR dating back to the 1972 season. LBSU has won six of its last seven meetings with the Highlanders, and won both games last season by a combined score of 150-90.
Last Week's Tidbits:
The 102 points scored at CS Northridge on Jan. 15 was a league-high, and the first time LBSU reached the century mark since its 106-58 win over St. Francis (NY) on Dec. 27, 2001. Long Beach State is 64-0 all-time when scoring 100 points...Crystal McCutcheon took sole possession of third place in program history with her 96th three-point field goal made at CSUN on Jan. 15...McCutcheon needs seven three-pointers to tie Lauren Bull for No. 2 all-time...The Beach scored 55 points in the second half at CSUN on Jan. 15, the most in a half this season. LBSU also netted a conference and season-high 63 percent field goal percentage at CSUN.
Last Two Games in Review:
(LBSU 102, CS Northridge, 62 • Jan. 15, 2006) Led by Crystal McCutcheon's 22 points, the Long Beach State women's basketball team won its fourth straight conference game after a 102-62 victory over CS Northridge on Sunday afternoon from The Matadome. The 49ers (11-5, 4-0 Big West) have won seven of their last eight games. The last time Long Beach State reached the century mark was back on Dec. 27, 2001 when it defeated St. Francis (NY), 106-58. Jeannie Saunders added a career-high 18 points, Mary Has had a career-high 14 points, Fernanda Santos registered a double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds), and Karina Figueroa notched 13 points. Heather Cushing led CSUN (5-11, 2-3 Big West) with 12 points in the losing effort. The 49ers opened the second half with three straight uncontested layups, two courtesy of Saunders, and never allowed CS Northridge in the game the rest of the way. Long Beach State led by as many as 42 points, and shot over 65 percent in the frame. LBSU opened the game with an 8-2 lead after a McCutcheon jumper and eventually held a 15-4 lead after a Saunders three-pointer at the 13:45 mark. CSUN pulled to within four points of the lead, 20-16, after a Krisztina Fuleki jumper with 8:59 left in the half. However, Long Beach State quickly pushed its lead back to double-digits (11) after a Figueroa three-pointer at the 6:39 mark. The 49ers scored twice with under a minute in the half to hold a 15-point lead at the break. Saunders had 12 points in the stanza, while as a team, The Beach converted nine CSUN turnovers into 16 points. LBSU shot 55 percent from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range.
(LBSU 74, Pacific 61 • Jan. 13, 2006) The Long Beach State women's basketball team earned its second road win of the season after a 74-61 win over the Pacific Tigers on Friday night from the Spanos Center. Freshman Karina Figueroa led The Beach (10-5, 3-0 Big West) with 14 points, four assists, and no turnovers, while Fernanda Santos added 11 points and seven rebounds. Crystal McCutcheon chipped in with 10 points. McCutcheon also added a three-pointer to tie Adara Newidouski for third all-time in program history with 93 career three-point field goals made. Jayme Connors pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Connors ranks No. 1 in the Big West and No. 13 in the nation in rebounds per game (10.7). Kelsey Lavender led four Tigers in double-figures with a game-high 20 points in the losing effort. Both Long Beach State and Pacific (4-11, 1-3 Big West) shot 41 percent from the field. A strong second half allowed LBSU to own double-digit leads of 14, 16, and 18. Pacific only made it to the free throw line three times in the second period, while the 49ers converted 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the second half. The 49ers jumped out to a 7-2 lead on the Tigers in the first half after a McCutcheon three-pointer. Pacific responded with an 8-4 run to trim the LBSU lead to 11-10 after a Lavender three-pointer at the 15:27 mark. Back-to-back layups by Santos gave The Beach its biggest lead of the half at nine, 21-12, with 10:50 left in the period. Pacific took the lead temporarily at 29-27, after back-to-back three-pointers by Lavender and Renee Roberts with 2:42 left in the half. A Meghan Griffith converted three-point play and a late free throw by Figueroa gave Long Beach State the three-point lead at the half. The 49ers shot just 35 percent from the field, while holding the Tigers to just a 38 percent clip.
Home Friendly:
Long Beach State is 19-3 over its last 22 home games dating back to Nov. 24, 2004. Also in that span, LBSU has knocked off two ranked opponents (Houston, Dec. 20, 2004, 54-52 and USC, Nov. 23, 2005, 51-46). The 49ers are 8-1 at home this season.
Long Beach State and Overtime:
The 49ers are 2-1 in extra frames this season (The Beach played three overtime games last season). The 49ers defeated Pepperdine, 81-75 in double OT on Dec. 21. It was the first double OT game since Feb. 23, 1996. LBSU is 18-12 all-time in overtime games.
The Last Time that Happened:
Long Beach State did not record a blocked shot in its 51-46 win over USC on Nov. 23. The last time that happened was at UCSB on Mar. 5, 2005... Karina Figueroa dished out 10 dimes in the season opener at TCU on Nov. 18. The last time that a 49er registered 10 or more assists was Candice Wilson, who had 13 at CS Northridge on Jan. 8, 2005...LBSU shot just .297 in its 58-52 overtime win over San Francisco on Dec. 4., and .296 in its 58-57 loss at Montana on Dec. 10. The last time the 49ers shot .300 or less was against San Francisco on Jan. 2, 2003 when they shot .286 for the game...Jayme Connors became the seventh player in program history, and first since Melissa Gower in 1995 to pull down 20-plus rebounds (21) in a single-game (Pepperdine, Dec. 21). It was also a career-high for Connors...The 49ers pulled down 61 rebounds vs. Pepperdine on Dec. 21. The last time LBSU had 60+ rebounds was 70 vs. CS Fullerton on Dec. 22, 1999...Fernada Santos was 10-of-18 from the free throw line vs. Pepperdine on Dec. 21. the last time a 49er made between 10 to 14 free throws in a game was Glory Johnson vs. Mercer on Dec. 21, 2002...The 49ers recorded a season-low five steals vs. UCSB on Jan. 7...The last time the 49ers have five or fewer steals was at UC Riverside on Feb. 10, 2005...LBSU only had eight assists vs. UCSB on Jan. 7 (it was the second time this season that the 49ers had eight assists)...The last time The Beach had fewer than 10 assists was vs. Morehead State on Dec. 6, 2002....LBSU dropped 102 points at CSUN on Jan. 15, the last time LBSU scored was on Dec. 27, 2001 vs. St. Francis (NY)...LBSU scored 55 points in the second half at CSUN. The last time the 49ers scored 50+ points in a half was 50 at Stony Brook (12/5/04)...The 49ers had five players score in double-figures at CSUN (1/15). The last time the 49ers had five players score in double-figures was vs. CSUF on Jan. 13, 2005...LBSU shot 63 percent from the field at CSUN on Jan. 15. The last time that the 49ers netted 60 percent from the field was at UC Irvine (.633) on Jan. 10, 2002.
Player Notes:
#3 Crystal McCutcheon (Big West Player of the Year Candidate)
>>>McCutcheon has hit 40 three-pointers this season (96 for her career). She needs seven more 3pt field goals to tie Lauren Bull (103) for No. 2 all-time at The Beach...McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (16.6 ppg) and is averaging 18.4 points per game over her last eight games. She has scored in double figures 13 times this season, including her last 11 of her last 12 games.
• Scored a career-high 29 points vs. LMU (Dec. 17). The 29 points is also a Big West Conference season-high
• Made 21 consecutive free throws (Dec. 4-Jan. 2)
• Has scored in double-figures 13 times this season (including 11 of her last 12 games, Dec. 4-Jan. 15) and has scored 20+ points in six of her last nine games
• Has made three or more three-point field goals (in a game) 10 times this season (has made 15 three-pointers in last five games, Dec. 30-Jan. 15)
• Poured in a game-high 22 points at CSUN on Jan. 15
• Notched 23 points vs. Southern (Dec. 19) and 24 points vs. Pepperdine (Dec. 21)
• 11 points and four steals at Montana State (Dec. 10)
• Scored 20 points (including 4-of-9 from three-point range) at Montana State on Dec. 8
• Scored 13 points and had four steals vs. USC on Nov. 23 (USC was ranked No. 21)
• Hit 3-of-5 from three-point range en route to a 16 point, 5 rebound effort at TCU on Nov. 18
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in scoring (16.6 ppg)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in three-point field goals made per game (2.50)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in steals per game (2.75)
• Ranks No. 1 (No. 27 in the nation) in the Big West in Free Throw % (.868)
#25 Jayme Connors
>>>Passed Angelique Lee as the all-time program leader in defensive rebounds (512)...This season Connors has posted four double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.3/gm). Her 10.3 rebounds per game rank her 13th in the nation (As of Jan. 9). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in five of her last seven games (Dec. 21-Jan. 15)
• No. 1 all-time at The Beach with 512 career defensive rebounds. Connors passed Angelique Lee, who had 485 defensive rebounds from 1988-90. Jayme recorded her 500th career defensive rebound vs. Cal Poly on Jan. 9.
• Connors became the seventh player in program history, and first since Melissa Gower in 1995 to pull down 20-plus rebounds (21) in a single-game (Pepperdine, Dec. 21). It was also a career-high for Connors
• Posted eight points and 11 rebounds at Pacific on Jan. 13
• Recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 16 rebounds vs. Cal Poly on Jan. 9
• Notched her 11th career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds at UC Davis (1/2)
• Recorded 15 rebounds at Montana (Dec. 10)
• Posted her 10th career double-double with a season-high 18 points and 12 rebounds at Montana State on Dec. 8
• Pulled down 10 rebounds vs. USC (Nov. 23)
• Posted her ninth career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the season opener at TCU on Nov. 18
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West (No. 13 in the nation) in Rebounds per Game (10.3)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Defensive RPG (6.81)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Offensive RPG (3.44)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Minutes per Game (34.06)
#20 Karina Figueroa (Big West Freshman of the Year Candidate)
>>>Karina is averaging 14.5 ppg in conference play and has scored in double figures in four straight games. She has started every game for The Beach this season
• Made her 49er debut with 23 points and 10 assists (1 turnover) at TCU on Nov. 18
• Notched a team-high 14 points with four assists and three steals at Pacific (Jan. 13)
• Poured in 13 points, seven dimes and two steals at CS Northridge on Jan. 15
• Posted back-to-back double digit scoring efforts -- 13 points vs. UCSB (Jan. 7) and 18 points vs. Cal Poly (Jan. 9)
• Scored 20 points vs. Pepperdine on Dec. 21
• Had seven points, five assists at Montana State (Dec. 8)
• Shooting .750 from the charity stripe (36-for-48)
• Leads the 49ers with 56 assists
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Assists per Game (3.50)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Assist/TO Ratio (+1.81)
• Ranks No. 8 in the Big West in Free Throw % (.750)
#55 Fernanda Santos
• Netted her second double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-best 13 rebounds at CS Northridge (1/15)
• Notched a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in the double overtime win vs. Pepperdine (12/29). Santos was also 10-of-18 from the free throw line. The last time a 49er made between 10 to 14 free throws in a game was Glory Johnson vs. Mercer on Dec. 21, 2002.
• Had nine points, four steals vs. Southern on Dec. 19
• Had seven points and a career-high six assists at Montana State (Dec. 8)
• Two blocks vs. Richmond (Nov. 23)
• Posted three steals with six points and three rebounds in the season opener at TCU (Nov. 18)
#33 Jeannie Saunders
• Big West Player of the Week (Nov. 28)
• Career-High 18 points at CS Northridge (Jan. 15)
• Made 13 consecutive free throws from Dec. 17-Jan. 13
• Ranks No. 5 in the Big West in Three-Point FG% (.404)
• Has scored in double figures seven times this season, including 16 points to go along with five dimes vs. LMU (Dec. 17)
• Has had three or more assists seven times this season
• Posted 15 points and four assists vs. Cal Poly on Jan. 9
• Had 12 points vs. Southern (Dec. 19)
• Averaged 12 points per game and shot 63 percent from three-point range in Long Beach State's wins over USC and Richmond
• 3-for-3 from three-point range vs. USC (Nov. 23)
• Netted eight points and four rebounds at Houston on Nov. 20
• Logged 10 minutes of action in the season opener at TCU (Nov. 18) because of a sprained ankle suffered late in the week
#45 Meghan Griffith
• Scored a career-high nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds with three blocks at Pacific on Jan. 13
• Pulled down 10 boards vs. UCSB on Jan. 7
• Career-high eight points at UC Davis (Jan. 2)
• Six points, nine rebounds v.s South Dakota State (Dec. 30)
• Six points, seven rebounds vs. LMU (Dec. 17)
• Had three blocks vs. San Francisco (Dec. 4)
• Career-High 15 rebounds vs. Richmond (Nov. 26)
• Grabbed 12 rebounds and added six points vs. USC on Nov. 23
• Poured in seven points at Houston on Nov. 20
• Ranks No. 9 in the Big West in Rebounds per Game (5.6)
#21 Mary Has
• Poured in a career-high 14 points at CSUN on Jan. 15
• Registered nine points, seven rebounds, two steals at Pacific (1/13)
• Nine points vs. Cal Poly (Jan. 9)
• Posted seven points and three assists vs. Southern (Dec. 19)
• Had five points, two rebounds, and two steals in her 49er debut at TCU (11/2)
• Notched seven points and had a game-high five steals vs. San Francisco on Dec. 4
• Notched 7 points in both wins over USC (Nov. 23) and Richmond (Nov. 26)
Other News...
CSTV: TNG
The next generation of internet broadcasting is here, with the on-going sponsorship between the Big West, Long Beach State and CSTV, Inc., the rest of the home basketball season will be webcast on CSTV.com and the 49er website.
49ers Ink Six for the 2006-07 Season:
Long Beach State women's basketball head coach, Mary Hegarty, announced that six players, Lauren Bagley, Sherissa Bayes, Lindsey Beckner, Nondi Johnson, Lauren Sims, and Ally Wade have all signed National Letters-of-Intent to enroll at Long Beach State for the 2006-07 season. "It's a very talented and deep recruiting class," said Hegarty. "We addressed all of our needs at the post position with four new post players. This class has a strong work ethic and strong academic backgrounds. They will fit nicely with the players we have returning next season. This class will help take our program to the next level."
Wade Top-5 in the OC:
Long Beach State incoming recruit, Ally Wade, was selected as one of the OC Register's Top-5 Players to watch this season. Wade made first team All-County and All-CIF after averaging 18.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists and leading her team (El Dorado) to the Division II-AA semifinals. The OC Register also listed 49er incoming recruit, Lauren Bagley (Foothill), as another player on its watch list.
Big West Pre-Season Predictions are Out:
The Big West Conference had its annual media day on Nov. 2 and the Long Beach State women's basketball team was picked to finish second by both the conference's eight coaches and the media. Senior Crystal McCutcheon also made the pre-season all-conference team. In the media poll, the women compiled 67 points, with one first place vote behind UCSB's 79 points and nine first place votes. In the coaches poll, the women received two first place votes and 43 overall points to UCSB's 46.
Four Double-Headers this Season:
The 49er women will play four doubleheaders with the men's team this season. The first was on December 30 as the women defeated South Dakota State and the men defeated Cornell. On January 28 both teams will tangle with UC Irvine in The Walter Pyramid (2 & 5 pm). February 11 will be Homecoming on the 49er campus and the women will take on Pacific (3 pm) while the men tangle with UCSB (5:30 pm). The final doubleheader will be on March 4 at UC Irvine (4 & 7 pm).
The Beach on TV:
When Long Beach State tangles with UC Santa Barbara on February 18 in Santa Barbara, the game will be aired on Fox Sports West 2 at 5:00 p.m.
The 05-06 Schedule:
Five of Long Beach State's non-conference opponents advanced to the NCAA post-season last season, including TCU, Houston, USC, Montana, and Richmond. Conference rival, UC Santa Barbara also advanced to the NCAA post-season as well.
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