49ers Open Season at #22 USC
49ers Host Love & Basketball Tuesday, at USC Friday, Home vs. Santa Clara
November 6, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE Exhibition #2 - Love and Basketball
Game #1 at USC
Game # 2 vs. Santa Clara
Love & Basketball at Long Beach State • Tuesday, Nov. 7 • 7 PM • Walter Pyramid
Long Beach State at #22 USC • Friday, Nov. 10 • 7 pm • Galen Center
Santa Clara at Long Beach State • Sunday, Nov. 12 • 2 PM • Walter Pyramid
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV.com)
Quickly
The Long Beach State women's basketball team has one more exhibition tune-up vs. Love & Basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 7 (7 pm), before officially opening the season at No. 22-ranked USC on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 pm. The 49ers conclude their busy week with the home-opener vs. Santa Clara on Sunday at 2 pm.
Love & Basketball
Love & Basketball lost to California at Haas Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 5, 81-63. Aja Parham and Kim Gipson had 13 points each in the losing effort.
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 (3.0 ppg), Randi Cameron (1.2 ppg), and Kaiti O'Brien (2.0 ppg). 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 Recap (Team Concept, Nov. 1)
The Long Beach State women's basketball team opened its 2006-07 exhibition schedule with 69-59 loss to Team Concept on Wednesday (Nov. 1) in the Walter Pyramid. Freshman Lauren Sims had a team-high 14 points in the losing effort, while sophomore Karina Figueroa chipped in with 12 points. Sophomore Kaiti O'Brien grabbed a team-high eight rebounds as well. Chrystal Starling led Team Concept with a game-high 17 points. Turnovers plagued Long Beach State, as the 49ers committed 35. LB shot 40 percent from the field (23-of-57) and 7-of-21 from three-point range.
USC Notes
USC is joined by five other Pac-10 teams in the USA Today/ESPN preseason Top 25 Poll. USC (ranked No. 22) returns 11 players to the roster this season and have added four freshmen and two walk-ons. Headlining the load of returning talent to Troy this year is senior Wade Trophy Candidate Shay Murphy, who was the Trojans' leading scorer and earned Kodak All-America honorable mention as a junior. Murphy is one of seven seniors on the squad this season, giving the Trojans a load of returning experience and talent for their 2006-07 campaign. Starting center Chloe Kerr also returns for her senior season along with fellow senior starter Allison Jaskowiak and part-time starters Jamie Funn and point guard Jamie Hagiya . The only player graduating from last year's starting lineup was Meghan Gnekow , while junior Brynn Cameron and freshman Jacki Gemelos will redshirt this season. USC's three other freshmen are lined up to make an immediate impact in their first year at Troy, with 6-2 Hailey Dunham geared up to take on point guard duties and Aarika Hughes and Morghan Medlock bringing additional height and skill to the floor for the Trojans. USC was also picked No. 3 in the Pac-10 Coaches Poll. The Trojans open with an exhibition match against the Australian Institute of Sport at 7 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 6) at the Galen Center. In its home-opener vs. LBSU, USC also will retire the jerseys of Trojan greats Cheryl Miller and Lisa Leslie in a halftime ceremony.
Santa Clara Notes
Just like Long Beach State, SCU has two exhibition games. The Broncos defeated Sonoma State, 63-59 on Nov. 1 and face San Francisc State on Monday, Nov. 6... The Broncos claimed a share of the WCC Title last season after posting a 19-12 overall mark (11-3 WCC)...Santa Clara loses WCC Player of the Year Michelle Cozad (graduated), but still have Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson, who took home the Coach of the Year honors. Cozad led conference with 17.7 points per game. Bento-Jackson guided the Broncos to a share of the WCC regular season title and the top seed in the WCC Tournament with an 11-3 record in conference play. She is the first Santa Clara coach since Caren Horstmeyer in 1992-93 to receive WCC Coach of the Year accolades.
Season Openers & Other Notes for this Week
Long Beach State is 1-5 in season openers since the 2000-01 season...The 49ers are 36-16 all-time vs. USC and have won the last three meetings since 1998...The most recent win over the Trojans was last season's 51-46 triumph at home on Nov. 23. USC was ranked No. 21 at the time...Under coach Hegarty, LB is 1-0 vs. USC...This will be the first meeting between Santa Clara and Long Beach State.
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 24-4 over its last 28 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. LB plays Santa Clara in its home opener this season on Sunday, Nov. 12.
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 Season Preview
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, with plenty of depth at the point guard position coupled with size and strength in the post.
"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.
Guards
Point guard depth will be a plus this season for The Beach. "Last year we suffered without having a back-up point guard," noted Hegarty. "We've added two more guards in Tyresha Calhoun and Lisa Takata. Both can pressure the ball the way I like and push the ball up the court in our up-tempo style."
Knowing the importance of an experienced court general, Hegarty will rely on sophomore Karina Figueroa to anchor the 49er offense. "Karina gained a lot of experience last season, and with her play on the Peruvian National Team this summer," explained Hegarty. "She's improved her ball handling and shooting. I expect a great year from her."
This past summer, Figueroa played and started on the Peruvian National Team and averaged 9.0 points per game. As a freshman, she was Big West Honorable Mention, and landed a spot on the Big West All-Freshmen Team. After a foot injury sidelined her for the rest of the season at UC Riverside on Feb. 2, Figueroa had averaged 11.8 points per game in conference play. She made her 49er debut with 23 points and 10 assists (1 turnover) at TCU on Nov. 18, and had her most memorable game when she scored 20 points, including a running jumper in the paint with four seconds left to force a second overtime, and a layup with five seconds left in regulation to force overtime, in the double-overtime win over Pepperdine on Dec. 21.
Hegarty will also rely on guidance from the lone senior on the squad, Val Willhoit. "Val is someone who can provide strong leadership on this team. She has a tremendous work ethic and positive attitude. She is a great example of perseverance and determination." Last season Willhoit averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 27 games played (13 started).
Opponents this season will also have to contend with accurate perimeter shooters in freshmen Ally Wade, Lauren Sims, and Courtney Jacob. Wade averaged 18 points and six rebounds per game her junior season, and was selected to the Orange County Register's Top-5 high school athletes watch list prior to the start of her senior season. Sims helped lead Troy High School (Fullerton, CA) to four straight CIF Championships, three state championships, and a top-5 national ranking (2002-06). Considered one of the best three-point shooters in the country, Sims was listed as the 73rd best recruit for the 2006 class by "Blue Star Basketball" and was also a McDonald's All-American nominee last season. Jacob (Naples, FL) was selected as the 2006 Naples Daily News Girls Basketball Player of the Year, after averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 steals, and 3.6 assists per game last season for Barron Collier High School.
The other reserve guards include Imelda Pena, Lakin Saucedo, and Valeriya Musina. Pena and Saucedo both earned spots as walk-ons this season.
And after spending two seasons at Louisville, Valeriya Musina signed a Financial Aid Agreement in June of 2006 and will be able to compete athletically as a junior in the 2007-08 season.
Posts
One of the most notable differences to the 49er squad is the size and presence of post players in Hegarty's program. Hegarty does have a couple of returnees in sophomores Kaiti O'Brien, Randi Cameron, and redshirt freshman Amanda Foster in the mix. "Kaiti earned minutes last season after working extremely hard on the court," said Hegarty. "We expect her to be a leader this season." O'Brien averaged 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game (24 games played, three started) in her first season at LB, and shot .538 from the field.
Last season Cameron averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds per game (17 games played) "Randi worked extremely hard in the off-season to develop her skill and improve her fitness," said Hegarty. "I'm proud of her progress."
"Amanda is coming off a history of knee injuries, but we expect her to contribute in the post. Amanda will be in the line-up this season after her redshirt year. She is a fierce competitor who will add a lot of fire to this team."
The strength and size down low will also come from freshmen Lindsey Beckner, Lauren Bagley, and Nondi Johnson. "I expect to score some points with their size and presence in the paint," commented Hegarty.
Beckner (San Diego) was a three-time first-team all-league (South Bay) selection and a two-time South Bay League Player of the Year, while Bagley averaged 13 points and nine rebounds per game her final season at Foothill High School, and helped guide the Knights to a Seaview League Championship. Johnson (Palm Springs) was a three-time Desert Valley League MVP, and earned league Player of the Year honors her senior season.
Other reserves include Madison Pagani (sister of former collegiate and NBA player Cherokee Parks) and Brett Timmons. "Madison comes in as a junior transfer from a successful Orange Coast College program," said Hegarty. "Brett is a banger inside who will help us in the post."
The Schedule
Once again Hegarty will test her group with a tough non-conference schedule that features five teams that advanced to post-season play last year, including a difficult first test at USC on November 10. Last season, USC became the second ranked team to lose at the Walter Pyramid under a Hegarty-led 49er squad. The 49ers will face other hostile environments at South Dakota State, Utah, and Arizona, before opening conference play on the road vs. UC Santa Barbara on January 4. "We face a tough non-conference schedule, and we will be tested early and often," noted Hegarty. "The most important thing we do in non-conference is get vital experience for our young squad to prepare us for Big West play."
In a season filled with many "firsts" last year, Hegarty hopes to continue and build on that success with another conference title and ultimately a post-season berth to bring a national spotlight to a 49er program built for success for the future.
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