LBSU Prepares for Aggie Thanksgiving Classic
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Long Beach State (3-1) vs.
Northern Arizona (1-2)
Date: Friday, Nov. 27
Time: 2 p.m. (PST)
Location: Pan American Center (12,482) - Las Cruces, N.M.
Listen on KBeach | Live Stats | Twitter
Long Beach State (3-1) vs.
Northwestern State (3-2)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 28
Time: 12 p.m. (PST)
Location: Pan American Center (12,482) - Las Cruces, N.M.
Listen on KBeach | Live Stats | Twitter
Game Notes: Long Beach State 
The Long Beach State women's basketball team (3-1) will be looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it heads to Las Cruces, N.M., for the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic this weekend.
The Beach is set to open the two-day tournament against Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. (PST) on Friday, Nov. 27. LBSU then returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Nov. 28, for a 12 p.m. showdown with Northwestern State.
LISTEN UP
Fans can follow Long Beach State with every women's basketball game being broadcast live on KBeach. Jason Schwartz is in his first year as LBSU's play-by-play announcer.
QUICK HITS
• Long Beach State started the season at 3-0 for the first time since 1985-86.
• The Beach trailed for the first time this season at LSU (Nov. 21).
• LBSU has still led for 118:43 of 160 total minutes played.
• Long Beach State has had a different leading scorer in each of its first four games.
• The 49ers' 39 points in the first period of an 89-71 win over Portland State are tied for the second-most in a quarter by an NCAA Division I team through Monday's games.
• On the other end, the Beach scored a season-low five points in the second quarter at Houston.
• Anna Kim went 4-for-4 from 3-point range at Houston, making her the first 49er to do so since 2011.
• Jewelyn Sawyer recorded her second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds at UH.
• Head coach Jody Wynn is seven victories away from her 100th career win.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
After dropping its first two games of the season, Northern Arizona (1-2) got in the win column with a 75-63 victory over Lamar on Sunday. Freshman Alyssa Rader leads the team, averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. Junior Rene Coggins has also registered 11.3 points per outing. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State leads in its all-time series with Northern Arizona, 2-1, but the two teams have not faced each other in 12 years. The Beach topped NAU, 62-47, in the most recent meeting on Dec. 18, 2003, in Long Beach.
A GLANCE AT NORTHWESTERN STATE
Northwestern State improved to 3-2 overall with an 86-56 win over Central Baptist on Monday. Junior Beatrice Attura has paced the Lady Demons with 18.8 points per outing, while freshman Emerald Mayfield is also averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per contest. NSU has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances after winning the Southland Conference Tournament title in 2014 and 2015.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State leads in its brief all-time series with Northwestern State, 1-0. The two teams' only meeting came in Long Beach on Dec. 14, 1989. The 49ers topped NSU, 89-66.
OFF AND RUNNING
LBSU has been at its best offensively early in games this year as it has outscored its opponents, 90-56, in the first quarter. The 49ers have held a double-digit lead after the opening 10 minutes in three of their four games. Against Portland State, they scored a season-best 39 points in the first period.
BEACH FOR THREE
Long Beach State is tops in the Big West Conference with 29 threes made (7.3/game). The Beach was also second in the league with a 40.4 3-point field goal percentage prior to its most recent game at LSU on Nov. 21. The 49ers went an uncharacteristic 1-for-21 from long distance against the Tigers which dropped their efficiency to 33.3 percent. All 10 of LBSU's active players have made a three with junior Anna Kim (6-of-11) and freshman Chanterria Jackson (5-of-8) leading the way from behind the arc.
DEFENSIVE MINDED
The Beach has forced each of its first four opponents into at least 21 turnovers. LBSU caused Portland State to commit a season-high 30 miscues, while it also wreaked havoc on San Diego State (21), Houston (24) and LSU (26). The 49ers rank first in the Big West in turnovers forced (25.3/game), turnover margin (+9.5) and steals (10.5 spg). They are also ninth in the nation in turnover margin.
BRINGING IT BACK
Seventh-year head coach Jody Wynn has brought back the rich tradition of Long Beach State women's basketball. This season, the Beach raced out to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1985-86. In 2014-15, Wynn's 49ers had one of the best campaigns in recent history as they recorded the first 20-win season (22-10) in 15 years. They also put together a 15-game win streak, which was the fifth-longest in program history. Wynn became LBSU's only head coach other than the legendary Joan Bonvicini to lead the Beach to a double-figure win streak. Under her guidance, Long Beach State has also earned two WNIT berths (2013 & 2015), made six-straight Big West Tournament appearances - with a run to the championship game in 2012 - and has improved its win total in each of the last four years. Prior to Wynn's arrival, the 49ers had three-straight losing seasons where they combined to post just 26 victories.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Beach, which had struggled on the road in the past, turned things around last year, going 9-5 in true away games. Their nine wins were the most since the 1988-89 squad had 13 victories away from home. LBSU also started the year at 7-0 on the road for only the second time in program history. The 49ers will have another chance to prove themselves this year as eight of their 14 non-conference games are road contests. They recently started a season-long five-game road stretch at 1-1.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State closes out its five-game road swing at Pacific on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Alex G. Spanos Center.
