Long Beach State University
Arizona
Arizona Edges Long Beach State, 56-47
12/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Long Beach State women's basketball team closed out a four-game road swing with a 56-47 loss to host Arizona Sunday afternoon in front of 1,498 fans at McKale Center.
LBSU (32.2 percent) outshot the Wildcats (29.6 percent) but were just 4-for-6 from the free throw line, while the home team hit 21 of its 26 attempts. Arizona also held a 46 to 36 advantage in the rebounding department.
Long Beach State (2-6) was led by freshman Adelle Walton, who had a season-high 13 points. Junior Courtney Jacob chipped in eight points, while classmate Lauren Sims added seven.
Junior Whitney Fields also had six points and a team-high seven rebounds for the 49ers.
In a low-scoring first half, LBSU shot just 27.6 percent from the field, but was able to hold the Wildcats to a 21.2 field goal percentage.
Arizona (5-4) jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage and would go up by as many as seven before the 49ers started to chip away with a baseline jumper by Sims tying the game at 18-18. The Beach would eventually take its first lead of the afternoon on a pair of Sims free throws at the six-minute mark. LBSU was able to stay on top for the remainder of the half, going up 22-21 at the break.
The two teams went back-and-forth in the second period and the 49ers trailed by just two at 46-44 after a layup by Jacob with 2:06 left to play. The Wildcats eventually pulled ahead in the final minute as they hit eight consecutive free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 56-47 win.
Reiko Thomas led Arizona with a game-high 23 points and Ify Ibekwe notched a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
Long Beach State will return to the Walter Pyramid on Saturday, Dec. 20, when it takes on Brigham Young at 5:30 p.m. (PST).
