49ers Travel to Cal Poly, UCSB
LBSU has One-Game Lead on Gauchos
February 13, 2206 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE
GAME #23 - at CAL POLY
GAME #24 - at UCSB
Long Beach State at Cal Poly • Thursday, Feb. 16 • 7 PM • Mott Gym
Long Beach State at UCSB • Saturday, Feb. 18 • 5 PM • The Thunderdome
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV.com)
15-7, 8-2 Big West
Home: 12-1 • Away: 3-6 • Neutral: 0-0
What's Hot
1. The 49ers at Home
Long Beach State is 23-3 over its last 26 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 12-1 at home this season and have won night straight home games (Dec. 19-Feb. 11).
2. Defense
Opponents are shooting just .362 against the 49ers this season. LBSU ranks No. 1 in the Big West (No. 22 in the nation, as of Feb. 6) in field goal pct. defense. Long Beach State also ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring defense (60.6). In fact 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. Offense
The 49ers are averaging a shade over 73 points per game in league play, and dropped a conference-high 102 points at CS Northridge on Jan. 15. LBSU has won 11 of its last 14 games and have averaged 72.3 points per game in that span. The 49ers rank No. 2 in scoring offense (69.0 ppg), and rank No. 1 in scoring margin (+8.4).
4. Jayme Connors
This season Connors has posted seven double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.0/gm). Her 10 rebounds per game rank her 24th in the nation (as of Feb. 6). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in eight of her last 11 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 11). She posted three straight double-doubles on Feb. 2-11 (12 points, 10 rebounds at UCR, Feb. 2; 10 points, 15 rebounds at CSUF, Feb. 4; 11 points, 12 rebounds vs. Pacific, Feb. 11)
5. Crystal McCutcheon
McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (17.3 ppg) and is averaging 18.7 points per game over her last 14 games. She has scored in double figures 19 times this season, including 17 of her last 18 games. She is No. 2 all-time at The Beach with 110 career three-pointers. McCutcheon has 54 trey's this season and is 10 shy of the single-season record of 64 set by Reta Sula during the 1999-2000 season.
Quickly:
The Long Beach State women's basketball team (15-7, 8-2) travels to Cal Poly (10-10, 5-4) on Thursday, Feb. 16 and UC Santa Barbara (11-10, 6-2) on Saturday, Feb. 18. The LBSU-UCSB game will be televised on Fox Sports West 2 at 5 pm. Paul Sunderland and Tammi Blackburn will broadcast the action from the Thunderdome. Long Beach State holds a one-game lead over the Gauchos and a has a two-game cushion on the Mustangs in the Big West standings. The 49ers defeated both Cal Poly and UCSB at the Walter Pyramid back in January.
Last Week's Tidbits:
Crystal McCutcheon inched closer to Reta Sula's single-season record of 64 three-pointers made during the 1999-2000 season. McCutcheon has 54 three-pointers this season, after connecting for three on Saturday vs. Pacific.
Did You Know?
Long Beach State, as a team, ranks No. 1 in 10 categories in the league (Scoring Margin (+8.4); 3-Point Field Goal Pct. (.341); Rebounding Offense (43.8/gm); Rebounding Margin (+5.2); Scoring Defense (60.6); Field Goal % Defense (.362); Rebound Defense (38.6); Offensive Rebounds (16.14/gm); Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.79); Defensive Rebounds (27.68/gm).
Last Game in Review:
(LBSU 77, Pacific • Feb. 11, 2006)
The Long Beach State women's basketball team ended its two-game losing streak with a 77-54 win over Pacific on Saturday from the Walter Pyramid. Crystal McCutcheon poured in a game-high 26 points, three off of her career-high, to lead the 49ers (15-7, 8-2 Big West). McCutcheon, who shot 9-of-19 from the field, was joined by three other 49ers that scored in double-figures, including Jeannie Saunders (14 points, six assists), Fernanda Santos (15 points, 11 rebounds), and Jayme Connors (11 points, 12 rebounds). For Santos it was her fourth double-double of the season, and for Connors it was her third straight double-double, and seventh of the season. Carolina Ruiz led Pacific (5-17, 2-7 Big West) with 24 points in the losing effort. Long Beach State held a 25-24 lead with 4:06 left in the first half, before opening an 11-point lead at halftime, courtesy of a 10-0 run. The 49ers carried their momentum into the second half and extended their lead to 17, 56-39, after a pair of Santos free throws. LBSU held its biggest lead at 25, 77-52, after a Santos layup with 1:20 left in the game. The 49ers shot 53 percent in the second half.
Opponent 411
>>> Cal Poly (10-10, 5-4)
Cal Poly has lost three straight games and six of its last eight. Jessica Eggleston paces the Mustangs at 11.8 points per game.
>>>Probable Starters
F - Megan Harrison (9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
F - Courtney Cameron (6.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
C - Sarah Grieve (7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
G - Anthonia Newman (5.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
G - Michelle Henke (5.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
>>>Cal Poly Team Stats
FG% (.397), FT% (.652), RPG (42.8), PPG (71.9)
>>> UCSB (11-10, 6-2)
The Gauchos have clawed their way back into the BWC standings, but are coming off two straight non-conference losses to Stanford and UC Davis
>>>Probable Starters
F - Jessica Wilson (9.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
F - Jenna Green (14.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg)
C - Kat Suderman (6.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
G - Karena Bonds (8.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
G - LaShay Fears (6.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
>>>UCSB Team Stats
FG% (.381), FT% (.673), RPG (38.9), PPG (63.8)
These Players Come Through Down the Stretch:
Both Karina Figueroa and Crystal McCutcheon have proven to be clutch in the last five minutes of games this season. Figueroa is 14-of-30 from the field (.467) and has converted 14-of-17 free throws when there is five minutes left in the game, while McCutcheon is 21-of-26 from the charity stripe, and has compiled seven steals in the last five minutes of the contest.
49ers Shoot Better in the Second Half:
Long Beach State shoots just .378 in the first half of its games this season (258-of-682), but shoots at a .430 clip in the second half (285-of-663). Moreover, LBSU averages 31.4 points in the first half of games, and 36 points in the second half of games this season.
Home Friendly:
Long Beach State is 23-3 over its last 26 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 12-1 at home this season, and have won night straight home games (Dec. 19-Feb. 11).
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...Fernanda 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 has shot 60 percent or better from the field twice this season (63 percent from the field at CSUN on Jan. 15, and 61 percent vs. UC Irvine on Jan. 28). The last time that the 49ers netted 60 percent from the field was at UC Irvine (.633) on Jan. 10, 2002. The 90 points allowed by LBSU at Riverside were the most by an opponent this season...The last times the 49ers gave up 90 points in a loss was in a 91-82 loss at Ohio on Dec. 5, 2000. Player Notes:
#3 Crystal McCutcheon (Big West Player of the Year Candidate)
>>>McCutcheon made her 100th career three-pointer vs. UC Riverside on Jan. 21-- Has 110 for her career (she has made 54 this season), No. 2 all-time at The Beach.
>>>McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (17.3 ppg) and is averaging over 18 points per game over her last 14 games (Dec. 19-Feb. 4). She has scored in double figures 19 times this season, including 17 of her last 18 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 19 times this season (including 17 of her last 18 games, Dec. 4-Feb. 11) and has scored 20+ points nine times
• Has made three or more three-point field goals (in a game) 13 times this season (has made 13 three-pointers in last five games, Jan. 21-Feb. 11)
• Poured in a game-high 26 points with eight rebounds and five steals vs. Pacific (Feb. 11)
• Posted game-high 23 points with eight rebounds at CSUF (Feb. 4)
• Registered a game-high 18 points (6-of-8 from the field) with three assists vs. UC Irvine on Jan. 28
• Back-to-Back 17 point performances vs. CS Fullerton (Jan. 19) and UC Riverside (Jan. 21)
• 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 (17.3 ppg)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in three-point field goals made per game (2.45)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in steals per game (2.50)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Free Throw % (.871)
#25 Jayme Connors
>>>Passed Angelique Lee as the all-time program leader in defensive rebounds (547)...This season Connors has posted seven double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.0/gm). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in eight of her last 11 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 11)
• No. 1 all-time at The Beach with 547 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
• Has posted three straight double-doubles Feb. 2-11 (12 points, 10 rebounds at UCR, 2/2; 10 points, 15 rebounds at CSUF on Feb. 4; 11 points, 12 rebounds vs. Pacific, 2/11)
• Registered 12 points (5-of-6 from the field) and nine rebounds vs. UCI on Jan. 28
• Notched six points, 10 rebounds vs. CS Fullerton on Jan. 19
• 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 13 rebounds in the season opener at TCU on Nov. 18
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Rebounds per Game (10.0)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Defensive RPG (6.55)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Offensive RPG (3.50)
• Ranks No. 3 in the Big West in Minutes per Game (33.18)
#20 Karina Figueroa (Big West Freshman of the Year Candidate)
>>>Figueroa is out indefinitely with a foot injury suffered Feb. 2 at UC Riverside
>>>Karina is averaging 11.8 ppg in conference play and scored in double figures in seven straight games (Jan. 7-Jan. 28). She has started 20 games this season
• Made her 49er debut with 23 points and 10 assists (1 turnover) at TCU on Nov. 18
• Poured in a combined 21 points vs. CS Fullerton (Jan. 19) and UC Riverside (Jan. 21)
• 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 .726 from the charity stripe (45-for-62)
• Leads the 49ers with 67 assists
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Assists per Game (3.35)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Assist/TO Ratio (+1.81)
#55 Fernanda Santos
>>>Fernanda averaged 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game from Jan. 13-21. She shot .467 from the field, converted 16-of-21 free throws and posted seven steals during that four-game stretch
• Registered 15 points and 11 rebounds (fourth double-double in ‘06) vs. Pacific on Feb. 11
• Posted 16 points at Riverside (Feb. 2) and 12 points at Fullerton (Feb. 4)
• Posted her third double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds vs. UC Riverside on Jan. 21
• 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)
• Equaled her career-high 18 points at UC Riverside (Feb. 2)
• Made 13 consecutive free throws from Dec. 17-Jan. 13
• Ranks No. 6 in the Big West in Three-Point FG% (.364)
• Has had three or more assists in a game 11 times this season (25 assists over last five games)
• Has scored in double figures nine times this season
• Turned in 14 points on 7-of-16 shooting and six assists vs. Pacific on Feb. 11
• Had eight points, six assists, and six rebounds vs. UC Irvine on Jan. 28
• Registered seven assists and pulled down six rebounds vs. UC Riverside on Jan. 21
•16 points to go along with five dimes vs. LMU (Dec. 17)
• 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
• Posted first career double-double (career-high 10 points, 10 rebounds) vs. CS Fullerton on Jan. 19
• Ranks No. 3 in the Big West in Blocks per Game (1.32). Griffith has a team-high 29 blocks this season
• Scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds with three blocks at Pacific on Jan. 13
• Pulled down 10 boards vs. UCSB on Jan. 7
• Posted 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
#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 tangled with UC Irvine in The Walter Pyramid (women won 79-50). On February 11 the women came away with a 77-54 win over Pacific. 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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