Long Beach State University
Cal State Fullerton
49ers Fall Short Late Against Titans
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
January 31, 2008
Fullerton. Calif. - With a healthy Valeriya Musina returning to the lineup, the 49ers brought nearly a full roster to Cal State Fullerton, but the Titans responded with big games from Toni Thomas and Ashley Richie in a 75-66 win Saturday night. Long Beach State held close through most of the contest, but a Titans run with 5:00 to play finished off the 49ers chances.
Long Beach State did a nice job of limiting Toni Thomas in the first half, holding the Titans' star to just four points, but the Titans still came out quickly thanks to a strong performance from freshman Ashley Richie. Long Beach State tied the game early at 7-7, but Richie keyed a 9-0 Fullerton run that allowed the Titans to control the pace of play through most of the half, ending the first with 12 points.
The 49ers did their best to work their way back into the game, and finally did so thanks to their third returning member, Valeriya Musina. Musina hit two first-half threes, as the 49ers kept chipping into the lead. Finally cutting the lead to one with under a minute to play, the 49ers hit Musina one more time, and opening a drive with a crossover dribble the junior finished the first-half recovery to put The Beach up one, 27-26 at the break.
Coming out in the second half, the 49ers continued to push the ball, and Karina Figueroa answered the call for Long Beach State, pouring in 18 second-half points to hold the 49ers close. Despite the first-half defensive effort on Thomas, the senior was able to get on the board in the second half, primarily at the line, where she was a perfect 9-9, including hitting two technical free throws after a foul underneath for a four-point trip, breaking a 41-41 tie with 12:11 to play.
The 49ers worked their way back into the game, cutting the lead to one twice and then converting on a pair of fast break baskets by Kaiti O'Brien to take a three point lead at 55-52. The Titans took back the lead at 58-57, and a quick group of 49er turnovers put Long Beach State in a hole late, forcing the team to foul, where the Titans ended the night 22-26 overall from the line.
Long Beach State returns to action on Saturday, hosing UC Irvine at an earlier time, starting at 4 p.m. to accommodate a basketball double-header with the men. Both games will be at the Walter Pyramid.
