Long Beach State University Athletics
2016-17 Long Beach State Women's Basketball Prospectus
8/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
2016-17 Long Beach State Women's Basketball Prospectus 
LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State women's basketball team, which has posted back-to-back 20-win seasons, is looking to continue its success in 2016-17 as it returns 10 letterwinners and all five starters from last year's squad.
In 2015-16, the 49ers were 24-9 overall and earned their third WNIT berth in the last four years. Their 24 victories were the most in a season since 1990-91. They also tied for second in the Big West at 12-4, marking their best conference finish since claiming a share of the regular season title in 2005-06. In addition, the Beach made its seventh-straight Big West Tournament appearance where it advanced to the semifinals.
Long Beach State welcomes back four seniors, all of who have played a key role in the program's 46-19 record over the last two seasons. Raven Benton returns as LBSU's leading scorer after averaging 13.5 points per game in 2015-16. She also had 5.2 rebounds and a team-leading 2.5 assists per outing. The first-team All-Big West selection enters her final campaign ranked 18th in school history with 1,112 career points and needs only 37 rebounds to become the 12th 49er to join the 1,000 point/500 rebound club.
Jewelyn Sawyer had a breakout junior campaign in which she was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Year and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. She was tops on the squad with 6.0 rebounds per contest, while ranking second in scoring (9.0 ppg). Madison Montgomery is also coming off her best season at the Beach where she established career highs in points (8.6 ppg), rebounds (4.4 rpg), steals (1.5 spg) and blocks (1.1 bpg). Anna Kim, who is the 49ers' floor leader, rounds out the quartet of seniors. She garnered honorable mention All-Big West recognition last year after averaging 8.0 points and 2.2 assists per game.
Also back for Long Beach State are juniors Gigi Hascheff (6.2 ppg), Jessica Gertz (5.4 ppg) and Cece Wilson (4.4 ppg). Gertz led LBSU with 42 threes in 2015-16.
In addition, the Beach returns sophomores Chanterria Jackson, Katie Webster and Martina McCowan, while welcoming redshirt freshman Aaryon Green (6-1, Forward), true freshmen Alzena Henry (6-1, Forward) and Tyla Turner (5-5, Guard), and junior college transfer Darshana Ta'afua (6-2, Forward).
Letterwinners Returning (10)
Raven Benton, Sr., 5-10, Guard (13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
Jessica Gertz, Jr., 5-10, Guard (5.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
Gigi Hascheff, Jr., 5-7, Guard (6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
Chanterria Jackson, So., 6-1, Forward (5.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Anna Kim, Sr., 5-5, Guard (8.0 ppg, 2.2 apg)
Martina McCowan, So., 5-9, Guard (0.4 ppg, 0.5 rpg)
Madison Montgomery, Sr., 6-1, Forward (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Jewelyn Sawyer, Sr., 6-0, Guard/Forward (9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Katie Webster, So., 5-11, Guard (1.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Cece Wilson, Jr., 5-8, Guard (4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Redshirts Returning (1)
Aaryon Green, RFr., 6-1, Forward
Newcomers (3)
Alzena Henry, Fr., 6-1, Forward
Darshana Ta'afua, Jr., 6-2, Forward
Tyla Turner, Fr., 5-5, Guard
