Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
6-9, 2-1BWC
UC Irvine
4-12, 1-3BWC
Beach tops UC Irvine, 67-55, in Big West action
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2010
LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State women's basketball team recovered from a slow start as it erupted for 47 points in the second half to run away with a 67-55 victory over UC Irvine in Big West Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Walter Pyramid.
The 49ers improved to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in the Big West, while UCI fell to 4-12, 1-3 BWC.
The Beach shot 42.9 percent from the field and went 5-for-8 from behind the arc. LBSU was also 20-of-24 from the free throw line and outrebounded the Anteaters, 37-32.
Senior Karina Figueroa led Long Beach State with 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Classmate Ally Wade also had a solid all-around performance with 10 points, seven boards, four assists and two steals, while junior Ashley Bookman chipped in a career-high tying 10 points.
UCI took an early 8-4 advantage before LBSU went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Figueroa free throw, to take an 11-8 lead at the 10:36 mark. The Anteaters quickly responded with seven unanswered points to go back up by four at 15-11.
Sophomore Tipesa Moorer eventually ended a nearly five-minute scoring drought for The Beach with a jumper at the 5:49 mark, sparking a 9-3 spurt that gave the 49ers a 20-18 advantage with 1:55 to play. UCI was able to take a 24-20 lead into the break, however, as it hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute.
The Anteaters went up by as many as 10 after intermission, but the 49ers came alive midway through the second half as a 15-4 run gave The Beach a 36-35 advantage with 8:21 to play. The two teams went back and forth from there with four lead changes before a Wade 3-pointer put LBSU on top 43-39.
UCI fought its way back, tying the score at 43-43 with just over five minutes to play, but Bookman hit a jumper and junior Melanie Lisnock nailed a three to put the 49ers back on top by five. The Beach led the rest of the way, sealing the victory by hitting 14-of-15 free throws down the stretch.
Mikah Maly-Karros paced the Anteaters with 19 points and six rebounds, while Rebecca Maessen added 12 points.
Long Beach State returns to action next Thursday (Jan. 14) when it heads north for a Big West Conference game at UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (PST).
