Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
2-0
Pepperdine
0-1
THE BEACH DEFEATS PEPPERDINE IN DEFENSIVELY CHARGED CONTEST
11/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MALIBU, Calif. - Long Beach State held Pepperdine to just 27.3 percent shooting in the game, but the Beach struggled offensively as well posting a 20.9 field goal percentage as the 49ers pulled out a 44-41 victory Sunday at Firestone Fieldhouse.
The Beach (2-0) turned in a solid defensive showing as the 49ers pulled down 53 total rebounds - 26 offensive and 27 defensive - while forcing 19 turnovers.
Jewelyn Sawyer turned in her second double-double in as many games as she grabbed 15 rebounds and led the team with 11 points. Raven Benton added nine point and six boards, while Tyla Turner scored all seven of her points in the third quarter. Cece Wilson grabbed nine rebounds and two steals for the 49ers.
"I'm just really proud that we were able to pull out a win," Long Beach State head coach Jody Wynn said. "It was ugly - for four quarters it was ugly. It didn't get pretty for more than one possession. But I am proud of our effort. We played solid defense, we held Pepperdine to 27 percent from the field. It was an ugly game, but we won with a good defensive effort."
Both Long Beach State and Pepperdine (0-1) struggled offensively as the first quarter saw the 49ers shoot 15.8 percent from the field and the Waves post a 27.3 field goal percentage. The Beach was unable to connect on a three-point shot (0-for-9) or a free throw (0-for-2) in the frame as they put up just six points to the Waves' nine in the first ten minutes of action.
The 49ers outscored the Waves in the second quarter 13-11, despite being out-shot 44.4 percent to 29.4 percent from the field. Benton tallied five points in the frame for the Beach as they closed out the first half on an 11-0 run to make it a one-point contest (20-19) at halftime.
Following the intermission, the 49ers came out and held the Waves to just 7.7 percent from the field in the third quarter allowing just one field goal in the frame. The Beach, meanwhile, saw Turner notch all seven of her points in the quarter and give LBSU a 30-26 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
Long Beach State led for the majority of the fourth quarter pushing its lead to as many as eight (40-32). But, Pepperdine would chip away and even the score at 41-41 on a made free throw by Paige Fecske with 30 seconds left in the game. However, Anna Kim sunk the first of two free throws and Sawyer made both of hers to give the Beach the 44-41 victory.
"We put up 97 points on Friday and we struggled to get in the 40s this afternoon," Wynn said. "They're definitely not the prettiest numbers, but to know that we can still win a game shooting as poorly as we shot gives us some sort of positive. The only reason we won the game was because we had 26 offensive rebounds. Jewelyn Sawyer was a monster tonight on the boards. I'm so proud of her."
Long Beach State returns to the Walter Pyramid for its home opener on Friday, Nov. 18 when the 49ers host Houston at 7 p.m.
