49ers Travel to LMU
LBSU Then Has a Break Until Dec. 1
November 20, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 0-4, 0-0 Big West
Home: 0-3 • Away: 0-1 • Neutral: 0-0 Game # 5 at Loyola Marymount
Long Beach State at LMU • Nov. 21 • 4 pm • Gersten Pavilion
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV.com) The 49ers are 0-4, But... Freshman Lauren Sims is Producing...
Over the last three games Sims is leading the team with 13.3 points per game and shooting 67% (8-of-12) from behind the arc
LB is still tough at Home...
Long Beach State is 24-7 over its last 31 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 went 13-2 in the Walter Pyramid last season.
The 49ers are Rebounding Better...
Over the last three games Long Beach State has out-rebounded its opponents, 38-34 on the offensive boards, and 114-111 overall. Sophomore Kaiti O'Brien is averaging 7 rebounds per game in that three-game span
The 49ers are Heating Up from Three-Point Range...
Over the last three games Long Beach State has out-shot its opponent from beyond the arc, 31% to 26% Quickly
The Long Beach State women's basketball team searches for its first win of the season when it travels to Loyola Marymount on Nov. 21 at 4 pm. The Lions defeated Long Beach State, 82-71 last season in the Walter Pyramid. LMU leads the all-time series over The Beach, 5-3, including five in a row since 1997.
What You Should Know: about The Beach
In her fourth season as head coach, Mary Hegarty has her youngest squad in her short tenure at LBSU. However, the 2005-06 conference Coach of the Year is quite optimistic with her 13 newcomers (eight freshmen) and five returnees. One of the key returnees is sophomore Karina Figueroa. The 5-8 guard will be called upon to lead the young squad. Figueroa, who averaged 9.6 points per game last season, was selected to the Pre-Season All-Conference Team as well. Other returnees include: Val Willhoit, Randi Cameron, and Kaiti O'Brien. The 49ers were conference co-champions last season.
06-07 Squad Breakdown
Seniors 1 (Willhoit); Juniors 3 (Calhoun, Musina, Pagani); Sophomores 5 (Cameron, Figueroa, O'Brien, Pena, Saucedo); Freshmen 8 (Bagley, Beckner, Jacob, Johnson, Sims, Takata, Timmons, Wade); Redshirt Freshman 1 (Foster)
Last Game Recaps (vs. Oregon, Nov. 19)
Both Oregon and Long Beach State struggled offensively, but it was the Ducks coming out on top, 44-33, in women's basketball action in the Walter Pyramid on Sunday afternoon. The 49ers remained winless on the season (0-4) and will travel to LMU on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 4 pm. Oregon meanwhile improved to 2-0. Karina Figueroa led Long Beach State with 13 points, while Lauren Sims chipped in with six points and Lisa Takata with five points and four steals.Brett Timmons pulled down a team-high seven boards. Long Beach State shot just 24 percent from the field (13-of-53). Lilley Taylor posted 14 points to lead Oregon, while Jessie Shetters registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Ducks registered a 29 percent clip from the field, but out-rebounded The Beach, 44-33. Oregon maintained a comfortable cushion throughout the second half and held its biggest lead of 18, 33-15, after a Shetters jumper at the 14:35 mark. The 49ers tried to make one last surge in the late stages of the game after a Sims jumper cut the Oregon lead to eight, 40-32 with 1:23 remaining. However the Ducks converted four foul shots in the final 43 seconds to sustain the 11 point victory.
Last Game Recaps (vs. Montana State, Nov. 17)
The Montana State women's basketball team erased a 12 point second half deficit and escaped the Walter Pyramid with a 78-68 victory over the 49ers on Friday night. Long Beach State fell to 0-3 on the season, while MSU picked up its first win and improved to 1-1. Freshman Lauren Sims (Fullerton) notched a career-best 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Sims also added six rebounds. The last 49er to hit five three-pointers in a contest was Jinga Gosschalk in 2003. Karina Figueroa had nine points and dished out six assists, while Kaiti O'Brien pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. The 49ers shot 37 percent from the field and committed a season-low 16 turnovers. Montana State however out-rebounded The Beach, 42-32, and blocked five shots. Four players had double-figure scoring for MSU, with Rebecca Mercer and Whitney Connolly each registering 17 points. LB opened the second half with a solid scoring run and built a 10 point lead after a Sims three-pointer three minutes into the half. The 49ers increased their lead to 12, 48-36, after an Ally Wade layup, before Montana State chipped away the double-digit deficit down to a 50-50 tie with 10:07 remaining in the game. Long Beach State answered with a 9-4 run to take a 59-54 lead courtesy of another Sims three-pointer. The visitor's fought back and took a 61-59 lead after a Mercer three-pointer at the 5:13 mark in the period. LB held a short lead over the next two minutes, but the Bobcats took the lead for good over the final three minutes.
LMU (1-2)
Xavier pulled away in the second half to down the LMU women's basketball team, 75-65, in the championship game of National City Xavier Invitational. The game was tied nine times, and there were 10 lead changes, but a 10-2 run by the Muskateers midway through the second half was the difference. Amanda Patton led LMU with 22 points, including four three-pointers. The Lions will return to Gersten Pavilion for their home opener on Tuesday afternoon to host Long Beach State at 4:00pm. With the win, Xavier improves to 3-0 on the season, while LMU drops to 1-2. The game was close in the first half, despite LMU's poor shooting from the field early in the game. However, strong rebounding and defense kept the game tight. The score was tied five times and the lead changed eight times in the first half. Jennifer Hall was strong inside, and Patton secured five rebounds in the first half. She also heated up from outside, hitting two three-pointers in the opening minutes of the game. Amber Harris was the only Xavier player to score in the final 7:34 of the first half, scoring 10 points to help the Muskateers to a 30-27 halftime lead.
BWC Pre-Season Polls
Long Beach State was picked to finish third in the Big West Conference in both the coaches and media polls released in October.
Home Friendly
Long Beach State is 24-7 over its last 31 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 went 13-2 in the Walter Pyramid last season.
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. Fans can also listen live to all 49er games via www.longbeachstate.com
2006-07 49ers
After claiming its first conference championship in 15 years last season, Long Beach State is reloaded and ready to contend for a second consecutive crown and a post-season berth this season. "I can't say it enough, but I've never been more excited about coaching any team more than this one," boasted fourth year head coach Mary Hegarty. "We have solid returnees and enthusiastic, hard working newcomers who bring a lot of energy to this program. We have players who are proud to be a part of Long Beach State and the tradition we've had here. They are eager to help this program excel." Despite being a very young squad (eight true freshmen on the roster), what really has Hegarty excited is the fact that the 06-07 team has more height, depth, perimeter shooting, and the important ability to score in the paint than any of her previous teams at LBSU.
Player Notes
#20 Karina Figueroa
>>Selected to the BWC Pre-Season All-Conference Team
>> Has scored in double-figures in 3 of the 4 games played this year
• Had 13 points and four rebounds vs. Oregon
• Dished out a season-high six assists vs. Montana State, Nov. 17
• Tallied 11 points vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12
• Posted 12 points at #22 USC (Nov. 10)
#2 Tyresha Calhoun
>>Leads the team in scoring average (12.7 ppg)
>>14-for-16 from the charity stripe this season (.875)
• Led the team with 16 points (was also 6-for-6) from the line vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12
• Registered 14 points and five assists in her 49er debut at #22 USC on Nov. 10
#23 Kaiti O'Brien
>>Leads the 49ers at 6.5 rebounds per Game
• Pulled down seven rebounds v.s Oregon on Nov. 19
• Registered her first career double-double (13 and 12) with four assists and two steals vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12
•Tallied 8 points and 5 rebounds vs. #22 USC on Nov. 10
#3 Lauren Sims
>>Shooting .500 from three-point range this season (8-of-16)
• Had six points, three rebounds vs. Oregon, Nov. 19
• Connected for 20 points (5-of-6 from three-point range) vs. Montana State on Nov. 17
• Posted her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds (both career-highs) vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12
#21 Courtney Jacob
>>Solid Contributor off the bench
• Had seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists vs. Santa Clara on Nov. 12
• Made her 49er debut with eight points, six rebounds, and a steal at #22 USC
Other Notables...
Lisa Takata made her first career start vs. Oregon on Nov. 19 and registered five points and four steals...Brett Timmons made her first career start vs. Oregon on Nov. 19 and pulled down seven rebounds...Amanda Foster scored her first collegiate points (4) vs. Montana State on Nov. 17
Notes from Around the League...
The Big West women's basketball teams are spanning the western United States this week to compete in a variety of holiday tournaments. UC Riverside is the first of three teams to participate in tournament play as they travel north to take on the frigid weather at the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska, on November 21-22. On Tuesday, the Highlanders will battle both the ten-degree weather and Butler University at 8:00 p.m. The following night UCR will face either face Anchorage Alaska or Air Force.
Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge begin their respective tournaments following their Thanksgiving feast. The Titans will conclude a six-game road swing when they open the Wingate Thanksgiving Classic with host Montana State on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Cal State Fullerton will face either University of Texas-Arlington or North Dakota State
The Matadors, who opened the season with a 2-2 start, travel to Moraga, Calif. to take on the Saint Mary's Gaels in the first day of the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Tournament. Saturday‚s matchup up will pair Cal State Northridge with Alabama or Missouri.
The Pacific Tigers travel to the midwest in search of their first road win since Dec. 30, 2004. On Friday night, the Tigers face the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State before visiting Wichita State on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Defending Big West Co-Champion Long Beach State (0-4) embark on a four-game road trip that kicks-off on Tuesday, Nov. 21 against Loyola Marymount at 4:00 p.m. The Lions have won the past five meetings.
While Long Beach State is building frequent flyer miles, the other half of the defending co-champions, UC Santa Barbara, host Louisville and N.C. State at The Thunderdome, where they were 10-4 just a season ago. The Gaucho-Cardinal showdown takes place on Friday, while UCSB entertains the Wolfpack Sunday afternoon.
UC Irvine concludes a three-game road trip on Tuesday as they face the Fresno State Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. The Anteaters return to the Bren Center on Friday night for a matchup against Nebraska. This is the first meeting between the Anteaters and Cornhuskers.
After playing three games over the past week, Cal Poly has a lighter load this week as they are scheduled for only one matchup. On Saturday, Nov. 25 the Mustangs visit Portland for an afternoon contest. Cal Poly holds a 3-1 edge over the Pilots.
And Finally...
Long Beach State head coach, Mary Hegarty announced that three players -- LaTorya Barbee (Moreno Valley/Canyon Springs HS), Brittany Brumfield (Long Beach/Long Beach Poly HS), and Ashley Bookman (Redondo Beach/Redondo Union HS), have all signed National Letters-of-Intent to enroll at LBSU for the 2007-08 season. "All three players come from excellent high school programs," commented Hegarty. "We (coaching staff/Long Beach State women's basketball) continue to recruit the best local players." Barbee averaged 7.9 points per game and dished out 75 assists and registered 43 steals as a junior last season. In her sophomore season, Canyon Springs went 31-4, and won the CIF Championship, before falling in the State Championship game. "LaTorya is a poised point guard with great quickness and the ability to defend the ball," said Hegarty. Brumfield averaged nearly four points per game, while registering 40 steals for Long Beach Poly as a sophomore during the 2004-05 season. Brumfield missed the majority of her junior season after suffering a knee injury during practice. "Brittany is an exciting playmaker who uses her speed extremely well, offensively and defensively." Bookman's Redondo team defeated Brea Olinda, 56-53 in the Southern Section Division II-A Championship game in March – its third section title in the last six years. In the semifinals, Bookman scored nine points to lead Redondo to a 71-63 win over Cajon. "Ashley's a versatile ‘four' player," said Hegarty. "She has the ability to play on the perimeter and run the floor."
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