49ers Back Home for One Game
LBSU Faces Pacific before Traveling to Cal Poly, UCSB
February 6, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE GAME #22 - PACIFIC
Pacific at Long Beach State • Saturday, Feb. 11 • 3 PM • Walter Pyramid
Listen Live: www.longbeachstate.com (watch all home games live on CSTV.com)
14-7, 7-2 Big West
Home: 11-1 • Away: 3-6 • Neutral: 0-0
What's Hot...
1. The 49ers at Home
Long Beach State is 22-3 over its last 25 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 11-1 at home this season.
2. Defense
Opponents are shooting just .360 against the 49ers this season. LBSU ranks No. 1 in the Big West (No. 13 in the nation, as of Jan. 31) in field goal pct. defense. Long Beach State also ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring defense (60.9). 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 nearly 73 points per game in league play, and dropped a conference-high 102 points at CS Northridge on Jan. 15. LBSU has won 10 of its last 13 games and have averaged 71.9 points per game in that span. The 49ers rank No. 2 in scoring offense (68.6 ppg), and rank No. 1 in scoring margin (+7.7).
4. Jayme Connors
This season Connors has posted six double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.0/gm). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in seven of her last 10 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 4). She posted back-to-back double-doubles on Feb. 2 and 4 (12 points, 10 rebounds at UCR, Feb. 2 and 10 points, 15 rebounds at CSUF on Feb. 4)
5. Crystal McCutcheon
McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (16.9 ppg) and is averaging 18.2 points per game over her last 13 games. She has scored in double figures 18 times this season, including 16 of her last 17 games. She is No. 2 all-time at The Beach with 107 career three-pointers
Quickly:
The Long Beach State women's basketball team (14-7, 7-2) looks to get back on track, after having lost two straight games, when it hosts Pacific (5-15, 2-5) on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 pm from the Walter Pyramid. The Tigers play at UC Irvine on Feb. 9. LBSU defeated Pacific, 74-61 back on Jan. 13 in Stockton.
Last Week's Tidbits:
Crystal McCutcheon moved to No. 2 all-time at The Beach with 107 career three-point field goals made. McCutcheon nailed two three-pointers at UC Riverside (Feb. 2) to give her 104, passing Lauren Bull, who had 103 from 2000-03. McCutcheon drained three three-pointers at CS Fullerton (Feb. 4)...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.
Did You Know?
Long Beach State, as a team, ranks No. 1 in eight categories in the league (Scoring Margin (+7.7); Rebounding Offense (43.7/gm); Rebounding Margin (+4.5); Scoring Defense (60.9); Field Goal % Defense (.360); Offensive Rebounds (15.86/gm); 3-Point Field Goal % (.348); Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.79)).
Last Two Games in Review:
(CSUF 62, LBSU 61 • Feb. 4, 2006)
The Long Beach State women's basketball team lost its second straight game after a 62-61 defeat to CS Fullerton from the Titan Gym on Saturday night. Jeannie Saunders had a chance to win it in the final seconds, but her jumper from the foul line rimmed in and out of the basket. Crystal McCutcheon led the 49ers (14-7, 7-2 Big West) with 23 points while Jayme Connors recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Fernanda Santos had 12 points. Amber Pruitt scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half to lift the Titans to the one-point victory, while Andrea Adams led CSUF (8-13, 5-4 Big West) with 19 points. The 49ers jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Fullerton went on a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead at the 17:20 mark. The Titans pushed their lead to seven, 25-18, after an Adams layup. Adams in fact had 17 points in the first half. Long Beach State managed to cut the deficit to two points on three occasions over the last five minutes of the half. A Kaiti O'Brien layup with 1:09 made it 36-33. LBSU shot 35 percent from the field in the stanza and grabbed 27 rebounds.
(UCR 90, LBSU 78 • Feb. 2, 2006)
The Long Beach State women's basketball team had its seven-game win streak snapped on the road at UC Riverside, 90-78, Thursday night from the Student Rec Center. LBSU fell to 14-6, 7-1 Big West, while Riverside improved to 7-12, 3-5 Big West. Jeannie Saunders led the 49ers with 18 points, while Crystal McCutcheon added 14 points and Jayme Connors had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Seyram Gbewonyo had 27 points and Amber Cox had 21 points to lead UCR in the victory. Riverside controlled the second half by shooting 55 percent from the field. Gbewonyo had 16 of her 27 points in the second half. Just like its first meeting with Long Beach State on Jan. 21, Riverside held a lead at halftime, 41-36. The Highlanders shot 52 percent and had 11 points from Gbewonyo. Saunders led LBSU with 12 first half points. UCR held an 11-6 advantage early, before LBSU took a 12-11 lead after a McCutcheon layup at the 13:53 mark. The 49ers went up 30-26 after a Saunders three-pointer at the five minute mark, but Riverside went on a 10-0 run after that point and held a six-point lead with 2:24 left in the half. UCR converted 14 Long Beach State turnovers into 22 points in the first stanza. Notes: Crystal McCutcheon moved to No. 2 all-time at Long Beach State with 104 career three-pointers. She was 2-of-7 from three-point range vs. UCR on Thursday night...The 90 points scored by Riverside were the most by an opponent this season.
Opponent 411
>>> Pacific (5-15, 2-5)
The Tigers are in second to last place in the Big West standings, and have lost seven of their last eight games. Kelsey Lavender averages 12.9 ppg
>>>Probable Starters
F - Carolina Ruiz (10.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg)
F - Whitney Price (3.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
G - Kelsey Lavender (12.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
G - Wyvonne Jones (4.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
G - Jerise Freeman (8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
>>>PAC Team Stats
FG% (.417), FT% (.651), RPG (38.9), PPG (63.2)
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 .379 in the first half of its games this season (245-of-646), but shoots at a .425 clip in the second half (268-of-631).
Home Friendly:
Long Beach State is 22-3 over its last 25 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 11-1 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...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 107 for her career (she has made 51 this season), No. 2 all-time at The Beach.
>>>McCutcheon leads the Big West in scoring average (16.9 ppg) and is averaging 18.2 points per game over her last 13 games. She has scored in double figures 18 times this season, including 16 of her last 17 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 18 times this season (including 16 of her last 17 games, Dec. 4-Jan. 28) and has scored 20+ points eight times
• Has made three or more three-point field goals (in a game) 12 times this season (has made 14 three-pointers in last six games, Jan. 15-Feb. 4)
• 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 (16.9 ppg)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in three-point field goals made per game (2.43)
• Ranks No. 3 in the Big West in steals per game (2.38)
• Ranks No. 1 (No. 18 in the nation) in the Big West in Free Throw % (.862)
#25 Jayme Connors
>>>Passed Angelique Lee as the all-time program leader in defensive rebounds (539)...This season Connors has posted six double-doubles, and leads the Big West Conference in rebounding (10.0/gm). Connors has posted 10 or more rebounds in seven of her last 10 games (Jan. 2-Feb. 4)
• No. 1 all-time at The Beach with 539 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 back-to-back double-doubles on Feb. 2 and 4 (12 points, 10 rebounds at UCR, 2/2 and 10 points, 15 rebounds at CSUF on Feb. 4)
• 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 (6.48)
• Ranks No. 2 in the Big West in Offensive RPG (3.48)
• Ranks No. 3 in the Big West in Minutes per Game (33.10)
#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
• 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. 3 in the Big West in Three-Point FG% (.393)
• Has had three or more assists 10 times this season (19 assists over last four games)
Has scored in double figures eight times this season
• 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 (1.38). 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 on the 49er campus 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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