Long Beach State University
UC Irvine
UC Irvine Topples 49ers In First Game Of Rivalry
3/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
February 2, 2008
Long Beach, Calif. - Living up to its billing as the black-and-blue game, the 49ers ended up on the short end of a physical contest with UC Irvine 75-64. Karina Figueroa finished with 12 points, and Melanie Lisnock added 11 for the 49ers.
An inspired start allowed UC Irvine to take a 7-0 lead over the first two minutes, finishing with a three from Rebecca Maesssen. Karina Figueroa ended the scoreless streak for Long Beach State, but the Anteaters opened up an 11-2 lead before a Mary Hegarty timeout. UC Irvine continued to put the pressure on the 49ers early, adding another three-pointer to take an 18-7 lead.
The Beach answered back with a 7-0 run as Long Beach State cut lead back to four at 18-11, and the team eventually tied the game at 20 following a pair of 49er fast break baskets. An Ally Wade three then gave the 49ers their first lead of the game, but UC Irvine answered with a trey of their own to hold onto a one-point lead. Following a technical foul on the UC Irvine bench, Long Beach State once again opened a two point lead, and a pair of Lisnock free throws helped the 49ers take a one-point lead into the half. The 49ers recovered completely from the slow start behind eight points from Lisnock and six from Figueroa in the first half.
Lisnock added a three to her total starting out of the half, but UC Irvine responded with a couple of nice baskets down low from Stephanie Duda to pick up a 36-33 advantage. Long Beach State continued to hold even the Anteaters, tying the game at 36 and then 43. The 49ers finally regained the lead after an O'Brien layup at 47-46, but UC Irvine hit Miranda Forry for a three-pointer to regain the edge with 9:12 to play.
Slowly extending a small lead, UC Irvine got a pair of stops and hit Mary Has for a big three at the top of the key to take a seven-point lead at 56-49. With a chance to cut the lead to four, the 49ers missed a plus-one free throw, and UC Irvine moved out to a seven-point edge one more time.
Long Beach State cut the lead to four at 62-58 with three minutes to play following a drive from Valeriya Musina, but UC Irvine answered with their sixth three move back in front by seven. Long Beach State grabbed a huge trip the next time down, however, as Karina Figueroa hit a three, and Duda was called for a foul underneath, and the 49ers converted on the one-and-one.
That was the closest that the 49ers would come, as a seventh three from UC Irvine sealed the win for the Anteaters.
Long Beach State remains home next week, hosting UC Davis in the team's gold game Thursday night at 7 p.m. before playing Pacific February 9 at 5 p.m. Both games will be held at the Walter Pyramid.
