Long Beach State University Athletics
LBSU Looks to Continue Winning Ways Against LSU on Tuesday
12/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LSU (4-4) at
Long Beach State (8-1)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 16
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: Walter Pyramid (4,200) - Long Beach, Calif.
Coming off one of its biggest victories in recent history, the Long Beach State women's basketball team will be looking to continue its winning ways on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when it welcomes SEC member LSU to the Walter Pyramid for a 7 p.m. showdown.
LAST TIME OUT
With an extraordinary team effort on the defensive end, and the game-winning put back by Devin Hudson with three seconds left in overtime, Long Beach State upset No. 18/17 Cal, 58-56, in front of 1,086 fans this past Saturday at the Walter Pyramid. Hudson finished the evening with 14 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and 15th of her career. Lauren Spargo tied for the team lead with 14 points and four steals, while Raven Benton had a solid all-around game with eight points, six boards and four steals.
SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
LSU evened its record at 4-4 with a 75-42 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday. Sophomore guard Raigyne Moncrief leads the Lady Tigers with 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Senior guard DaShawn Harden, who is coming off a 20-point performance, is also averaging 10.6 points per outing.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State trails in its short all-time series with LSU, 2-1. All three games were close as they were decided by five points or less. The two teams have not faced each other since Jan. 2, 1991, when the Lady Tigers edged the 49ers, 67-63, in Long Beach.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Beach stepped up to the challenge in its first meeting with a ranked team this season. The 49ers took down No. 18/17 Cal in overtime for their first win over a top-25 squad since defeating No. 21 USC in 2005-06. LBSU came in at No. 27 in the most recent NCAA RPI.
STRONG START
At 8-1, LBSU is off to its best start since 1986-87, when the 49ers dropped their season opener before winning 20-straight games. That squad went on to the NCAA Final Four and finished the year at 33-3.
KEEPIN' THE STREAK ALIVE
The Beach extended its win streak to six games, which is currently the longest in the Big West. It is also the longest by a 49er squad since winning seven-straight in 2005-06.
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE
Long Beach State has showcased a tough defense, forcing each of its first nine opponents into at least 20 turnovers. In an impressive win over No. 18/17 Cal, LBSU's pressure caused the Bears to commit a season-high 31 miscues. The 49ers are tops in the Big West in steals (10.7) and turnovers forced (24.2) per game, and rank 18th in the nation in turnover margin.
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, LBSU has posted a 37-16 (.698) record at the Walter Pyramid.
HUDSON ON THE BOARDS
After redshirting last season, junior Devin Hudson is finding her groove as she is averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds per contest. Hudson earned her second consecutive Big West Player of the Week award on Monday as she was recognized for her effort in a 58-56 overtime win vs. No. 18/17 Cal. The Ontario, Calif., native had the game-winning basket on a put back with 2.8 seconds left in the extra period. She finished the evening with 14 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and 15th of her career. In November, Hudson was also selected to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team following a 12-point and 20-rebound performance in the championship game against UAA. It was her third career game with at least 20 boards.
RAVEN'S WAY
Sophomore guard Raven Benton (Tacoma, Wash.) has reached double figures in scoring five times and has pulled down at least 10 rebounds twice this year. She recorded her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 10 boards at Portland State, while she also grabbed a season-best 14 rebounds against Seattle. Benton added 13 points vs. USF and at Pepperdine, 12 points at Alaska Anchorage and a season-high 22 points vs. USC. On the year, Benton is averaging 5.7 rebounds and a team-best 11.9 points per contest. She is also 38-of-44 (86.4 percent) from the free throw line.
LIGHTS OUT
Sophomore guard Anna Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) has been lights out from beyond the arc in her young career at the Beach. She owns a 43.6 career 3-point field goal percentage, which is tops in program history. This year, Kim finished with a season-high 16 points vs. USC, while she was also named to the Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team after netting 13 points vs. Boise State and nine points on a 3-for-4 performance from behind the arc at Alaska Anchorage. On the season, Kim is 8-for-16 from long distance, has five double-figure scoring games and is tied for second on the team with 10.0 points per contest.
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 29-5 first-half run that put the Beach up by 18. Spargo also tied for the team lead with 14 points and four steals in a huge 58-56 overtime win vs. No. 18/17 Cal. She added a team-best 13 points against Alaska Anchorage in the Great Alaska Shootout championship game and 13 points at Portland State. Spargo has made multiple 3-pointers in five contests, including a season-best three at UAA.
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 has continued her role as LBSU's floor general, leading the team in assists five times. She dished out a career-high 10 helpers at Alaska Anchorage, becoming the first 49er to record double-digit assists in a game since Karina Figueroa accomplished the feat in 2010. Meneses also had eight dimes vs. Seattle, seven at San Diego State and six vs. Boise State. The San Francisco, Calif., native added a season-best 13 points at Pepperdine. Meneses currently leads the Big West with 4.7 assists per outing.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State continues its season-long six-game homestand this weekend when it hosts the Beach Classic, Dec. 19-20. The 49ers will open the tournament against Florida Atlantic on Friday, before taking on former Big West member Pacific on Saturday. Both games are set for 5 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.
