Long Beach State University Athletics
LBSU Entertains Defending Pac-12 Tournament Champion USC on Friday
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
USC (1-1) at
Long Beach State (2-0)
Date: Friday, Nov. 21
Time: 4:30 p.m. (PST)
Location: Walter Pyramid (4,200) - Long Beach, Calif.
Watch | Listen |
The Long Beach State women's basketball team welcomes defending Pac-12 Tournament champion USC to the Walter Pyramid for a 4:30 p.m. showdown on Friday, Nov. 21.
LISTEN UP
Fans can follow the Beach with every women's basketball game being broadcast live via Stretch Internet Radio on longbeachstate.com. Tyler Hendrickson returns for his third year as LBSU's play-by-play announcer. All of the 49ers' home games will also be streamed live on BigWest.TV.
WITH A WIN...
A 49er victory vs. USC on Friday will mean:
- LBSU will start the season at 3-0 for the first time since 1985-86.
- LBSU will snap a four-game losing streak in its all-time series with USC.
- LBSU will earn its third win over a Pac-12 team in the last three years.
A GLANCE AT USC
USC (1-1) opened the season with a road split, falling at No. 2 South Carolina, 70-61, before bouncing back with a 99-64 win at Davidson. Kaneisha Horn paced the Trojans with 10.5 points per game, while Alexyz Vaioletama also averaged 10.0 points on 58.3 percent shooting. USC, which won the Pac-12 Tournament title last year, was picked to finish seventh in the conference's preseason media poll.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State leads in its all-time series with USC, 36-20, but the Trojans have won the last four. The two teams met last year with USC pulling away late for the 89-72 victory. LBSU shot 50.9 percent and was led by Raven Benton's career-high 26 points.
MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON
Seniors Alex Sanchez and Lauren Spargo are on pace to join the 1,000-point club in their final year at the Beach. Sanchez has 888 career points, while Spargo has 759.
FOR THE RECORD
Lauren Spargo ranks third in school history in 3-pointers made (124) and 3-point field goals attempted (433). Junior Devin Hudson also needs 64 defensive rebounds and 84 offensive rebounds to crack the top-10.
TOP TEAMS IN THE `MID
The Beach will welcome three 2014 NCAA Tournament teams to the Walter Pyramid during the non-conference portion of its schedule, starting with USC on Friday. The 49ers are also set to entertain No. 14 Cal, which advanced to the NCAA second round after making it to the Final Four in 2013, along with 2014 Sweet 16 participant LSU.
IN THE LEAD
LBSU took control early and never let up in its two games last weekend as it held the lead for nearly 69 of the 80 minutes played. The 49ers never trailed in the second half and held their largest lead at 23 points against San Diego State.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Long Beach State displayed its depth and versatility last weekend with all 10 active players scoring against both Seattle and San Diego State. Seven different players also reached double figures at least once. The 49ers averaged 21.0 assists in the two wins.
PESKY PRESS
The Beach also showcased a tough defense as its press forced Seattle into 24 turnovers and San Diego State into 27. The 49ers capitalized on those miscues, totaling 57 points off the combined 51 turnovers last weekend.
PROTECT THE PYRAMID
Over the last three years, Long Beach State has been tough to beat at home. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the 49ers have posted a 35-15 (.700) record at the Walter Pyramid.
ALEX DOES IT ALL
Alex Sanchez (Anaheim, Calif.), who has been one of the 49ers' most consistent and versatile players over the last three years, continued her all-around effort to start her senior campaign. She led the Beach to a season-opening sweep for the first time since 2004-05 with a team-high 12.0 points per game. Sanchez also registered 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest, while shooting 50 percent (4-for-8) from 3-point range. The two-time All-Big West selection enters the week with career averages of 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per outing. Sanchez also has 45 double-figure scoring games, including three with 20 or more points.
MENESES ON POINT
Senior point guard Hallie Meneses quickly worked her way back into top shape last year after sitting out the 2012-13 season with an ACL injury, and she hasn't slowed down. Meneses, who compiled a team-best 137 assists as a junior, has continued her role as LBSU's floor general, dishing out eight helpers vs. Seattle and seven at San Diego State. The San Francisco, Calif., native is also tied for fourth on the squad with 9.5 points per game.
POST PLAY
Long Beach State has received strong performances from its two active post players in sophomore Madison Montgomery (Englewood, Colo.) and junior Devin Hudson (Ontario, Calif.). The duo tied for the team lead with 13 points each and combined to go 10-for-16 from the field in an 85-73 victory over Seattle. Montgomery also had eight points and four rebounds, while Hudson had four boards and four blocks, at San Diego State.
CATCHING FIRE
After a slow start in the season opener with four points against Seattle, senior Lauren Spargo caught fire at San Diego State where she finished with a game-high 16 points. The Valencia, Calif., native scored 12 of those points over a three minute span to spark a huge 29-5 first-half run that put the Beach up by 18. The Aztecs were never able to recover as the 49ers emerged with the 74-62 victory.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State embarks on its longest road trip of the year next week when it heads to Anchorage, Alaska, for the GCI Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 25-26). The Beach is set to open the tournament against Boise State at 7 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, and will then play either Yale or tournament host Alaska Anchorage on Wednesday. The 49ers will also make a stop at Portland State on Saturday, Nov. 29, before returning home.
