Long Beach State University
UNLV
49ers Fall In Vegas 73-57
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
November 9, 2007
Las Vegas, Nev. - Sequoia Holmes scored 28 points and grabbed 8 rebounds as UNLV defeated Long Beach State in the season opener for both teams 73-57. Karina Figueroa led the 49ers with 14 points, and Valeriya Musina added 13 in the loss.
Holmes gave the 49ers a handful last year in Long Beach, and provided more of the same. The star senior for the Lady Rebels picked up 28 points and 8 rebounds, and Shamela Hampton finished with a double-double for UNLV with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Beach had trouble with both of them on the boards as well as center Shannon Oberg, and were outrebounded on the night by 20, picking up 31 rebounds to UNLV's 51.
Figueroa finished with eight rebounds for the 49ers, and Jacob was next with six in 28 minutes. Musina, who had a very strong start in the first half, picked up two quick fouls in the second and was relegated to the bench for most of the rest of the game with foul trouble, eventually fouling out with four minutes to go in the game.
UNLV opened with a quick start, taking a 6-0 lead before Long Beach State grabbed their first basket. After the early run however, the 49ers worked all the way back to within one at 14-13. The Lady Rebels answered with consecutive baskets from Holmes and Fanny Tirtiaux, and started a 12-0 lead that broke open the game. Long Beach State finally got on the board again at 26-15 following a pair of Figueroa free throws, and stepped up their defense at the end of the half to keep the lead at that margin, heading into the break down 12 at 39-27. The 49ers were helped by 11 first-half points from Musina, who was a perfect 5-5 from the line.
Coming out of the half, the 49ers traded baskets early with the Lady Rebels, and finally cut the lead to six at 42-36 after a Figueroa layup, the closest the team would get in the half. From there, UNLV ran off seven straight points, including four from Hampton to put the game mostly out of reach.
The 49ers would cut the lead under ten one more time, hitting Courtney Jacob for two consecutive threes to bring the score back to 51-42 with 11 minutes to play. UNLV responded with a basket, and a long scoring drought for both teams at that point ruined the 49ers' chances for a comeback.
Long Beach State returns to action next Thursday, when they host Loyola Maryount in the home opener for the 49ers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid, and is the only home game for the Beach in the month of November.
