49ers Play Final Two Home Games
Senior Day on Saturday
February 20, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE GAME #25 - CS NORTHRIDGE
GAME #26 - UC DAVIS
CS Northridge at Long Beach State • Thursday, Feb. 23 • 7:30 PM • Walter Pyramid
UC Davis at Long Beach State • Saturday, Feb. 25 • 2 PM • Walter Pyramid
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV.com)
16-8, 9-3 Big West
Home: 12-1 • Away: 4-7 • 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 nine straight home games (Dec. 19-Feb. 11).
2. Defense
Opponents are shooting just .357 against the 49ers this season. LBSU ranks No. 1 in the Big West (No. 23 in the nation, as of Feb. 13) in field goal pct. defense. Long Beach State also ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring defense (59.9). In fact the 49ers held the league's scoring leader, Cal Poly, to 12 points under its season average, after their 74-59 win on Feb. 16.
3. Offense
The 49ers are averaging 70.8 points per game in league play, and dropped a conference-high 102 points at CS Northridge on Jan. 15. The 49ers rank No. 2 in scoring offense (68.1 ppg), and rank No. 1 in scoring margin (+8.2).
4. Jayme Connors
This season Connors has posted eight double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.1/gm). Her 10.1 rebounds per game rank her 24th in the nation (as of Feb. 13). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in 10 of her last 13 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 18). She posted four straight double-doubles from Feb. 2-16 (12 points, 10 rebounds at UCR, Feb. 2; 10 points, 15 rebounds at CSUF, Feb. 4; 11 points, 12 rebounds vs. Pacific, Feb. 11; 11 points, 11 rebounds at Cal Poly, Feb. 16)
5. Crystal McCutcheon
McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (16.6 ppg) and is averaging 17.4 points per game over her last 16 games. She has scored in double figures 20 times this season, including 18 of her last 20 games. She is No. 2 all-time at The Beach with 112 career three-pointers. McCutcheon has 56 trey's this season and is 8 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 (16-8, 9-3) plays its last two home games of the regular season vs. CS Northridge (6-17, 3-7) on Thursday, Feb. 23 (7:30 pm), and UC Davis (15-9) on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 pm. Saturday's game will honor four Long Beach State seniors (Crystal McCutcheon, Jayme Connors, Fernanda Santos, and Meghan Griffith) in their final game at The Walter Pyramid. Senior ceremonies will be held after the game. The 49ers dropped a season and conference-high 102 points on Northridge back on Jan. 15, but fell to UC Davis, 67-64, on Jan. 2.
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 56 three-pointers this season, after connecting for two at Santa Barbara on Saturday...Long Beach State earned its first win at Cal Poly (Thursday) since the 1999-2000 season, but continued its 15-game losing streak at Santa Barbara after its 46-43 loss on Saturday. LBSU hasn't won at UCSB since Feb. 14, 1991 at the Thunderdome...Jeannie Saunders posted a career-best 28 points at Cal Poly on Thursday...The 16 second half points scored by the Gauchos on Saturday were the fewest amount of points scored on The Beach in a half this season.
Did You Know?
Long Beach State, as a team, ranks No. 1 in 9 categories in the league (Scoring Margin (+8.2); 3-Point Field Goal Pct. (.338); Rebounding Offense (43.7/gm); Rebounding Margin (+4.4); Scoring Defense (59.9); Field Goal % Defense (.357); Offensive Rebounds (15.75/gm); Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.78); Defensive Rebounds (27.92/gm).
Last Two Games in Review:
(UCSB 46, LBSU 43 • Feb. 18, 2006)
The Long Beach State women's basketball team shot just 29 percent from the field and suffered a 46-43 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night from the Thunderdome. The 49ers fell to 16-8, 9-3 Big West, while the Gauchos improved to 12-11, 7-3 Big West. UCSB did not shoot well either, hitting just 19-of-61 shots for a 31 percent clip. Crystal McCutcheon led The Beach with 17 points, while Fernanda Santos chipped in with her fifth double-double of the season (13 points, and a career-high 15 rebounds). Jenna Green paced Santa Barbara with 16 points. The Gauchos used a 12-2 run early in the first half to go up by nine, 14-5, at the 13:42 mark after a Green jumper. LBSU cut the deficit to six, 17-11, after a Jayme Connors layup, but fell behind by 10, 21-11, after an Autumn Nichols layup at the 7:31 mark. The Gauchos maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the half. A Kaiti O'Brien layup with eight seconds left left LBSU down by 10, 30-20 heading into the break. Long Beach State opened up the second half with tight defensive pressure, and narrowed the gap to four points, 34-30, on a McCutcheon layup at the 13:11 mark. UCSB pushed its lead back up to eight, 42-34 after a Nichols jumper with over five minutes left in the contest. LBSU countered with a furious rally and cut the deficit to one, 44-43, after a Jeannie Saunders layup with 2:05 left in the game. Green answered with a five foot jumper to put UCSB up 46-43. That lead stayed true over the final 1:36 of the game, as the 49ers could not sink a three-pointer to send the game into overtime. (LBSU 74, Cal Poly 59 • Feb. 16, 2006)
Led by a career-high 28 points by Jeannie Saunders, the Long Beach State women's basketball team defeated Cal Poly 74-59 from the Mott Gym on Thursday evening. LBSU improved to 16-7, 9-2 Big West, while Cal Poly fell to 10-11, 5-5 Big West. The 49ers also improved to 4-6 on the road. It was the first win at Cal Poly since the 1999-2000 season. Cal Poly leads the Big West in scoring at 71.9 points per game, but was limited to just 30 percent shooting from the field (20-of-67). Jayme Connors posted her fourth straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Fernanda Santos added 16 points for LBSU. Jessica Eggleston led the Mustangs with 14 points in the losing effort. Long Beach State opened the game on a 17-2 run in the first six minutes of the half, before the Mustangs trimmed the deficit to five, 21-16, after a McBride three-pointer at the 7:26 mark. LBSU quickly pushed its lead back to double-digits at 11 after a Kaiti O'Brien layup with 2:56 left in the period. Another O'Brien jumper on the baseline gave Long Beach State a 15-point lead, before Cal Poly connected on two field goals in the final 23 seconds to make the halftime score 40-29. Saunders and Santos had a combined 21 points for the 49ers in the first half.
Opponent 411
>>> CS Northridge (6-17, 3-7)
CS Northridge is 1-7 in its last eight games dating back to Jan. 15. Opponents have outscored the Matadors, 71.8 to 63.3 points per game.
>>>Probable Starters
F - Jazelle Burries (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
F - LaJoyce King (11.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
G - Jamie McCaa (11.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
G - Megan Ching (4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G - Ashley Blake (3.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
>>>CSUN Team Stats
FG% (.397), FT% (.681), RPG (38.2), PPG (63.3)
>>> UC Davis (15-9)
Davis is not a member of the Big West conference yet, but has compiled a 10-2 record against BWC teams this season. The Aggies have won eight straight.games
>>>Probable Starters
F - Lara Gray (9.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
F - Jessica Campbell (11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
C - Ellen Porshneva (12.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
G - Kimberly Smith (11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
G - Jackie Turpin (11.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
>>>UC DAVIS Team Stats
FG% (.439), FT% (.809), RPG (33.4), PPG (67.6)
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 and 10 assists 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 (281-of-743), but shoots at a .426 clip in the second half (306-of-718). Moreover, LBSU averages 31.3 points in the first half of games, and 35.4 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 had 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 112 for her career (she has made 56 this season), No. 2 all-time at The Beach.
>>>McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (16.6 ppg). She has scored in double figures 20 times this season, including 18 of her last 20 games.
• Scored a career-high 29 points vs. LMU (Dec. 17).
• Made 21 consecutive free throws (Dec. 4-Jan. 2)
• Has scored in double-figures 20 times this season (including 18 of her last 20 games, Dec. 4-Feb. 18) 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 15 three-pointers in last seven games, Jan. 21-Feb. 18)
• 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 (16.6 ppg)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in three-point field goals made per game (2.33)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in steals per game (2.33)
• Ranks No. 1 in the Big West in Free Throw % (.842)
#25 Jayme Connors
>>>Passed Angelique Lee as the all-time program leader in defensive rebounds (559)...This season Connors has posted eight double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.1/gm). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in 10of her last 13 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 18)
• No. 1 all-time at The Beach with 559 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 four straight double-doubles Feb. 2-16 (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; 11 points, 11 rebounds at Cal Poly, Feb. 16)
• 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 (10.1)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Defensive RPG (6.50)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Offensive RPG (3.58)
• Ranks No. 3 in the Big West in Minutes per Game (33.46)
#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
• Had 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds at UCSB on Feb. 18
• Poured in 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals at Cal Poly on Feb. 16
• 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 28 points at Cal Poly on Feb. 16
• Has scored 18 points on two different occasions (at CSUN, 1/15 and at UCR, 2/2)
• Made 13 consecutive free throws from Dec. 17-Jan. 13
• Ranks No. 5 in the Big West in Three-Point FG% (.373)
• Has had three or more assists in a game 11 times this season (29 assists over last seven games)
• Has scored in double figures 10 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. 4 in the Big West in Blocks per Game (1.33). Griffith has a team-high 32 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
• Had eight points, four assists, and four steals at Cal Poly (Feb. 16)
• 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 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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