Long Beach State University Athletics
Raven Benton, Hallie Meneses Earn All-Big West Honors
3/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
2014-15 All-Big West Women's Basketball Teams 
2014-15 Big West Women's Basketball Specialty Awards
IRVINE, Calif. - Long Beach State had two players named to the 2014-15 All-Big West Women's Basketball Team the conference office announced Monday morning. Sophomore Raven Benton was a second-team selection, while senior Hallie Meneses earned honorable mention recognition.
Raven Benton (Tacoma, Wash.) was averaging 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in conference games before suffering a season-ending injury with three weeks left in the regular season. The 5-foot-10 guard reached double figures in six of 10 Big West contests, which included a 20-point performance in only 20 minutes played against Cal State Fullerton. Benton also finished with 17 points and made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds on the clock in a 63-60 victory over UC Davis.
In non-conference action, Benton registered season bests of 22 points vs. USC, and 14 rebounds against Seattle, while posting her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 10 boards at Portland State. On the year, she averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. This is here second postseason award as she was also named to the Big West All-Freshman Team last year.
Hallie Meneses (San Francisco, Calif.) earned her first all-conference honor after averaging 11.6 points and a team-best 4.1 assists in Big West play. At the end of the 16-game conference schedule, the 5-foot-5 point guard ranked among the league's top-10 in scoring, assists, 3-pointers made (29), 3-point field goal percentage (35.8), free throw percentage (79.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.74). Since the loss of Benton to an injury, Meneses has carried the load for the Beach as she ended the regular season with six-straight double-figure scoring games and averaged 16.7 points per outing during that stretch. In January, she was named the Big West Player of the Week following a career-high 26-point performance in a win at Cal Poly.
On the year, Meneses is the only 49er to start every game and she is averaging a career-best 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. She will enter the postseason ranked sixth in school history in career 3-pointers made (117) and free throw percentage (78.1).
Benton and Meneses helped Long Beach State to one of its best seasons in recent history. The Beach is 22-8 overall, marking its most wins since 1999-00 and its best win-loss record since 1990-91. The 49ers also put together a 15-game winning streak, which is the fifth-longest in program history.
Long Beach State is the fourth seed in the Big West Tournament and will play the highest remaining seed in the second quarterfinal at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym on Wednesday, March 11. Tip-off is set for 30 minutes after the first game, or 8:30 p.m. (PDT), whichever is later.
