Long Beach State University
UC Santa Barbara
49ers Drop Big West Opener
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Januaray 3, 2008
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State cut what had been a large UC Santa Barbara lead back to two with five minutes to play, but were unable to regain an elusive tie as the Gauchos took what was both teams' Big West opener 70-62. Ally Wade led the 49ers with 15 points and 4 rebounds.
Tyresha Calhoun also had a solid effort for the 49ers, leading the team with five rebounds and seven assists to go with eight points. Kat Suderman was the leading scorer for the Gauchos, finishing with a game-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds. Long Beach State outshot the Gauchos 48% to 44% and outrebounded UCSB 32-29, but were beat on the offensive glass 32-29 and suffered from 29 turnovers in the game.
Early baskets from LaTorya Barbee and Ally Wade helped the 49ers take an early lead. Wade hit the 49ers' first three and Long Beach State opened an 8-2 lead prior to the first media timeout. The Gauchos hit Gibbons and Pedersen for two threes to take a 12-9 lead. Melanie Lisnock tied the game at 12 with a brief Long Beach answer, but Santa Barbara responded at that point, starting a 16-2 run at 10:34 which allowed the Gauchos to control the remainder of the half.
Finally breaking out of their slump, a Lauren Sims three came along with two Calhoun free throws to cut the lead to nine with 3:09 to play. The 49ers continued to push, taking the lead down to six with a Brett Timmons two with two minutes to play. However, Jessica Wilson scored four unanswered, part of her team-high 12 in the first-half. Ashley Bookman scored a jumper at the buzzer, but UCSB held a ten-point lead at 40-30 going into the half.
Coming out of the half, the 49ers hit Wade for a quick three, and the gap would remain around seven for first five minutes. The 49ers made a few runs to five, and finally a Lynea Williams three-point play cut the lead back to four at 50-46; the closest the score had been since 17-14 in the first half. As seemed to always be the case on the night though, UCSB responded with four straight points to hold onto the lead. Again, a Wade three cut the lead back to five at 56-51 game, but after that play she was forced to leave, picking up her fourth personal with 10 minutes to play. Taking advantage of her absence, the Gauchos extended their lead to nine courtesy of solid defense.
One more time though, Long Beach State would come back close. The 49ers cut the lead back to four after a coast-to-coast layup from Barbee with 5:45 to play, and this time, the 49ers took it back to two, as a Gaucho three from Gibbons rimmed out and Timmons hit a fast break jumper on the other end to cut the UCSB lead to 60-58.
Despite the brief run, UC Santa Barbara answered with two free throws, and a Wilson steal keyed a fast break to give the Gauchos a 64-58 lead, holding off the closest chance the 49ers would get.
Long Beach State falls to 0-1 in Big West play on the year, but will get another chance for their first conference win on Saturday, when they host Cal Poly. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.
