Long Beach State University
Utah
Beach Drops Final Game Before Big West Opener
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
December 29, 2007
Long Beach, Calif. - Tyresha Calhoun led the 49ers with 12 points, but Long Beach State was unable to slow down the Utah attack in a 74-46 loss Saturday. Utah shot 50.9% overall, led by Leilani Mitchell's 24 points.
Along with Calhoun, the 49ers had three players with eight points in Kaiti O'Brien, Lynea Williams and LaTorya Barbee, but struggled to stop Utah's leading scorers in Mitchell and Morgan Warburton. The 49ers shot 34 percent for the game, but were out-rebounded 42-30 and struggled to stop the Utah on offense, as the Utes shot 28-55 overall in the game.
Utah opened the game with a 3-0 start, but the 49ers worked their way back and tied the game twice, once at 3-3 and once at 5-5, but a 7-0 run from the Utes marked the last time the 49ers would be tied in the contest.
Over the next ten minutes, the 49ers held close, but two threes for Mitchell led to a 21-11 lead. Utah extended that advantage to a 37-20 halftime score behind Mitchell's 17 first-half points and 55% team shooting for Utah.
Lynea Williams scored a quick basket out of the half, and LaTorya Barbee added a layup for 4-0 run for Long Beach State. The 49ers were able to cut the lead to 12 at 49-37 after a Williams steal and basket, but that was the closest the Beach would come in the second half. Utah recovered from that rally, opening a 16-4 run with 11 minutes remaining which led to the final score.
Long Beach State finally enters conference play next week, playing their first two Big West opponents of the year. The 49ers will start by hosting UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, January 3 at 7 p.m. before taking on Cal Poly on January 5. Both games will be held at the Walter Pyramid.
