Long Beach State University Athletics
Beach Looks to Continue Winning Ways vs. San Francisco
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
San Francisco (7-2) at
Long Beach State (7-1)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 8
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: Walter Pyramid (4,200) - Long Beach, Calif.
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Game Notes: Long Beach State 
The Long Beach State women's basketball team will be looking to extend its win streak to a season-long five games when it welcomes San Francisco to the Walter Pyramid for a 7 p.m. showdown on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
The 49ers will be holding a canned food drive at Tuesday's game and anyone who donates at least three items will receive free admission. LBSU is also giving away holiday mugs to the first 100 fans in attendance.
QUICK HITS
• Long Beach State is off to a 7-1 start for the second year in a row.
• That marks the best back-to-back eight-game starts since LBSU was also 7-1 in 1985-86 and 1986-87.
• The Beach ranks among the top-30 in the country in turnover margin (16), win pct. (21) and scoring defense (28).
• The 49ers have trailed in only four games, but they have erased a deficit in all of those games.
• LBSU's biggest comeback was vs. Northwestern State where they overcame an 18-point deficit for a 60-59 win.
• Long Beach State has had six different leading scorers in its eight outings.
• The Beach has held seven of its eight opponents to 60 points or fewer, and three to under 50.
• The 49ers made a program single-game record 13 threes in an 89-71 win over Portland State.
• LBSU ranks first in the Big West and 16th in the nation in turnover margin (6.4).
• Jewelyn Sawyer was named the Big West Player of the Week on Dec. 7.
• Sawyer is on a season-long four-game double-figure scoring streak.
• Head coach Jody Wynn is three victories away from her 100th career win.
SAWYER EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Junior Jewelyn Sawyer collected her first career Big West Player of the Week award after leading the Beach to wins over Pacific and Pac-12 opponent Colorado. She was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field for a team-best 13 points in a 68-60 victory at Pacific, which has made four-straight postseason appearances. The 6-0 guard/forward added seven rebounds and three assists against the Tigers.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, Sawyer went 6-for-8 to finish with a game-high 15 points in a 59-42 rout of the Buffaloes. She finished the week averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and connected on an impressive 84.6 percent of her field goal attempts (11-of-13).
SCOUTING THE DONS
San Francisco (7-2) is riding a five-game win streak as it defeated UC Riverside, 88-76, and San Jose State, 82-78, last weekend. Taylor Proctor has been huge for the Dons as she is averaging 24.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Her scoring average ranks fifth in the nation. Zhané Dikes (14.7 ppg) and Rachel Howard (13.6 ppg) are also averaging double figures for USF.
SERIES RECORD
Long Beach State leads in its all-time series with San Francisco, 7-3, and has come out on top in the last three meetings. This is the third year in a row the two programs will face each other on the hardwood. On Dec. 7, 2014, LBSU defeated the Dons, 70-58, at the Walter Pyramid. Raven Benton and Anna Kim tied for the team lead with 13 points each.
PROTECT THE PYRAMID
Long Beach State has been tough to beat at home in recent years with a 48-19 (.716) record at the Walter Pyramid since the start of the 2011-12 season. The 49ers have posted at least 10 wins on their home court in each of the last four years and dating back to 2014-15, they have won four-straight in the `Mid.
DEFENSIVE MINDED
The Beach has forced six of its eight 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), Colorado (22), Houston (24), LSU (26) and Northern Arizona (27). The 49ers rank first in the Big West in turnovers forced (21.6/game) and turnover margin (6.4). They are also 16th in the nation in turnover margin and 28th in scoring defense (54.2). Long Beach State has allowed more than 60 points only once this season.
FIRST & THIRD
Long Beach State has been at its best in the first and third quarters this year, where it has averaged an identical 18.1 points per game and combined to outscore its opponents, 290-224. The 49ers have led after the opening 10 minutes in five contests, and held a double-digit advantage on three occasions. Against Portland State, they scored a season-best 39 points in the first period, which is tied for the second-most in a quarter by an NCAA Division I team through Sunday's games. Central Michigan has the top scoring quarter with 45 in the first frame of a win at Oakland on Nov. 15.
The Beach has trailed at the half only three times this year and twice responded with a big third quarter to come back for the win.
BEACH FOR THREE
LBSU ranks fourth in the Big West with 48 threes made (6.0/game). All 11 of Long Beach State's active players have made a three with sophomore Jessica Gertz leading the way with nine treys. Junior Anna Kim (7-of-14) and freshman Chanterria Jackson (6-of-13) have also been strong from behind the arc.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State will make the short trip to USC on Sunday, Dec. 13 (4 p.m.), before returning home to host the Beach Classic, Dec. 18-20.
