Long Beach State University Athletics
LBSU HOSTS HOUSTON IN HOME OPENER, TRAVELS TO SAN FRANCISCO
11/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Complete LBSU Game Notes (.pdf)
Game 3: Houston at Long Beach State
Date: Friday, Nov. 18, 2016
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Arena: The Walter Pyramid (4,200)
Radio: KBEACH.org / KBEACH App
Radio Talent: Jason Schwartz
Webcast: BeachVision
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
Game 4: Long Beach State at San Francisco
Date: Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Arena: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (4,268)
Radio: KBEACH.org / KBEACH App
Radio Talent: Doug Greenwald
Webcast: TheW.TV
Live Stats: USFDons.com
LONG BEACH STATE HOSTS HOUSTON IN HOME OPENER, TRAVELS TO SAN FRANCISCO
The Long Beach State women's basketball team brings a 2-0 record back home to the Walter Pyramid after defeating Nevada (97-93, OT) and Pepperdine (44-41) on the road last week. The Beach will host Houston in its home opener on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., before traveling to San Francisco to take on the Dons at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.
QUICK HITS
• Long Beach State has now won three straight season openers and five of its last six dating back to 2011.
• The Beach is currently riding a five-game winning streak in home openers as the 49ers welcome the Cougars of Houston to town on Friday.
• Long Beach State was tabbed as the favorite to claim the 2016-17 Big West title in both the coaches preseason poll and the media poll.
• After opening the season with a back-to-back double-doubles, senior Jewelyn Sawyer was named Big West Women's Basketball Player of the Week (Nov. 14).
• Over the last two years, Long Beach State has compiled an impressive 48-19 record for a winning percentage of .716.
• Senior Raven Benton recorded 21 points during the opening weekend bringing her career total to 1,133 to rank 17th all-time.
• The Beach has led the Big West in steals in each of the last three seasons and is currently sitting atop the league with 23 for an average of 11.5 steals per game.
• The 49ers' 23 steals rank them 35th in NCAA, while their turnover margin (+11.5) is good for 20th in the nation and leads the Big West.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Houston brings a 1-1 record into the Walter Pyramid for Friday's home opener. The Cougars opened the season with an 83-80 win over Southeastern Louisiana, before falling 64-53 at UNLV on Tuesday night. In just two games thus far, the Cougars are averaging 68.0 points per game, while allowing 72.0. Houston has posted 91 rebounds for an average of 45.5, to go along with 26 assists, 35 turnovers, six blocks and 19 steals. The Cougars are led by Chyanne Butler who is averaging 15.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. Butler has also dished out nine assists, grabbed four steals and posted one block. Angela Harris is the Cougars' other double-figure scorer as she averages 13.0 points per game, while Serithia Hawkins leads the squad with 8.5 rebounds per game.
SERIES VS. HOUSTON
Long Beach State leads in its all-time series with Houston, 4-1, and owns a 1-0 record against the Cougars in the Walter Pyramid. Last season, the Beach held off the Cougars 47-41 in their first meeting in 10 years. The last time the two teams met at the Pyramid was on Dec. 20, 2004 when Long Beach State edged Houston, 54-52.
SCOUTING THE DONS
San Francisco started the 2016-17 campaign with a 2-0 record as the Dons have defeated Sacramento State, 91-80, and Seattle, 73-59. The Dons had a solid offensive attack going in the opening weekend as they averaged 82.0 points per game and owned a scoring margin of 12.5, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. The Dons also out-rebounded their counterparts 53 boards to 36.5 for a margin of 16.5, however, they also turned the ball over 46 times for an average of 23.0 turnovers per game. San Francisco boasts three double-figure scorers in Rachel Howard (22.0 ppg), Michaela Rakova (16.0 ppg) and Kalyn Simon (11.0 ppg). Rakova connected on 16-of-26 shots for a 61.5 field goal percentage, while Howard owns a shooting percentage of 56.0 (14-for-25), and Simon is 8-for-18 for a field goal percentage of 44.4. Anna Seilund leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game, while Rakova is second on the squad with 7.5 rpg. Seilund also has dished out 10 assists and averages 7.5 points per game.
SERIES VS. SAN FRANCISCO
LBSU leads the all-time series against San Francisco, 7-4, in a series that dates back to 1980. A year ago, the Dons defeated the Beach in San Francisco, 66-52, to snap a three-game winning streak by the 49ers. The last time Long Beach State and San Francisco faced off inside the Pyramid, the Beach was victorious over the Dons, 70-58.
