Long Beach State University
Love & Basketball
Beach Opens With Exhibition Win 84-82
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
October 31, 2007
Long Beach, Calif. - A Lynea Williams buzzer-beater ended a high-scoring opening exhibition for Long Beach State against Love & Basketball 84-82. Coming around to receive the ball after an attempt for Karina Figueroa was well-defended, Williams hit a leaner just outside of the lane for the win.
Finishing with a heavy dose of Figueroa down the stretch, Long Beach State took an 80-79 lead with 2:20 remaining when Kaiti O'Brien knocked down a jumper in the lane. However, Love & Basketball recovered when a big offensive rebound by Portia Johnson following a made first free throw led to a basket in the lane by Denies Woods to give Love and Basketball a two-point lead with 56 seconds to play. Lauren Sims hit a closing layup to tie the game, and a Jessica Cheeks turnover set up the chance for Williams' heroics.
A solid effort offensively from the 49ers was buoyed by an attack that was more balanced than much of last season's. With Karina Figueroa only making one first-half point, the 49ers still scored 45 points in the first half, led by Williams and Sims who both finished with double-digits in the first period. Figueroa joined them in double-digits with a 15-point second half, and freshman LaTorya Barbee also scored 10 points in her 14 minutes on the floor.
On the night, Long Beach State out-rebounded Love and Basketball 53-51 and made 28 offensive rebounds. The 49ers finished with three players with seven boards, and both Kaiti O'Brien and Lindsey Beckner had five offensive rebounds.
Sims was the hot hand to start the contest, scoring 10 points early as Long Beach State moved ahead by a four-point cushion. After starting the game 3-3 from beyond the arc, a stretch of cold shooting allowed Love & Basketball back into the game, tying the game at 25-25. Love & Basketball grabbed their first lead of the game at 9:15 when Cheeks scored off of a fastbreak to finish a 6-1 run to take 31-26 lead.
The 49ers came back to tie the game at 36 off of Barbee jumper. The freshman continued to control the scoring to the close of the half, scoring four straight points to take a 45-44 lead going into the break.
A Figueroa jumper let the 49ers regain lead at 53-52 after Love and Basketball took a brief edge coming out of the half. Long Beach State held even with a three from Courtney Jacob, but a pair of 49er turnovers led to four fast break points for Love & Basketball and they took 65-62 lead.
Long Beach State grabbed a 74-73 lead with 4:30 to play after a Sims jumper, but Love & Basketball scored a pair of fast break baskets to move ahead 79-76 with three minutes to play.
The 49ers will continue exhibition play with one more tuneup on Monday, November 5 when they host Team Concept. That game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.
