Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
6-1
Pacific
4-3
Beach Tops Pacific, 68-60, for Third-Straight Win
12/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Box Score (html) | Box Score (PDF) 
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Long Beach State women's basketball team picked up its third-straight win and finished a season-long five-game road stretch with a 4-1 record after topping Pacific, 68-60, Wednesday evening at Alex G. Spanos Center.
The Beach (6-1) trailed by one at intermission, but put together a strong second-half effort where it outscored the Tigers, 36-27.
"I'm extremely proud of our team and their perseverance," head coach Jody Wynn said. "We didn't play particularly well in the first half, but we refocused at halftime and came back out with better purpose. I'm really proud of how our girls took care of the ball and made the extra pass tonight."
LBSU shot 46.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, while holding Pacific to 31.7 and 29.0 percent, respectively. The 49ers moved the ball well, finishing with 20 assists.
Long Beach State had three players reach double figures in scoring with junior Jewelyn Sawyer leading the way. Sawyer was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field for a team-best 13 points.
Junior Madison Montgomery notched her first double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. She also had three assists and three blocks. Sophomore Jessica Gertz added 10 points, marking her second double-digit performance in three games. Junior Raven Benton chipped in eight points, eight boards and five assists.
The game started off with a pair of free throws for Pacific after an administrative foul was issued prior to tip-off. The Tigers made 1-of-2 free throws before Long Beach State won the tip and took a 2-1 lead on a Montgomery layup. The Tigers then used a 7-2 spurt to pull ahead 9-4 at the 7:33 mark. The Beach would cut the deficit to one on two occasions, but the home team held a 19-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
LBSU opened the second period on a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from sophomore Gigi Hascheff, to go on top, 22-19, with 6:33 remaining. The 49ers stayed out front until Pacific reclaimed the edge (27-25) following four-straight free throws. It went back-and-forth from there, but Long Beach State trailed 33-32 at the break.
The third frame started off as another seesaw battle with six lead changes before the Beach got a three from Gertz and a jumper from freshman Chanterria Jackson to go up, 45-42. LBSU then made its push, closing out the quarter on an 8-2 run for a 53-44 cushion.
The 49ers would not relinquish that lead in the fourth period where they closed out the 68-60 victory.
Pacific (4-3) was paced by Hailie Eackles' game-high 17 points, while Erin Butler contributed 12 points and nine rebounds.
Long Beach State returns to the friendly confines of the Walter Pyramid this weekend when it entertains Pac-12 member Colorado at 2 p.m. (PST) on Sunday, Dec. 8.
NOTES: Long Beach State picked up its second-straight series win vs. Pacific ... It was LBSU's first victory in Stockton since 2010 ... The Beach finished a season-long five-game road stretch at 4-1 ... Jessica Gertz matched her career high with 10 points ... The 49ers had more turnovers than their opponent (11-to-10) for the first time this year ... Both teams were 13-for-21 (61.9 percent) from the free throw line ... There were 15 lead changes on the evening ... LBSU's 20 assists were the second-most this season as it finished with 24 in a win over Portland State ... Long Beach State spoiled Pacific's home opener as the Tigers played their first six games on the road ... UOP was coming off wins at North Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
