Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State to Host Beach Classic This Week
12/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GAME #11
Long Beach State (2-8) vs. Illinois State (4-5)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 20
Time: 3 p.m.
Arena: Walter Pyramid (4,200)
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
Radio: 22WestMedia.com
Radio Talent: Jay Holloway
Live Stream: Beach Vision
GAME #12
Long Beach State vs. Northeastern / New Mexico State
Date: Thursday, Dec. 21
Time: 12 p.m. / 2 p.m.
Arena: Walter Pyramid (4,200)
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
Radio: 22WestMedia.com
Radio Talent: Jay Holloway
Live Stream: Beach Vision
The Long Beach State women's basketball program will host the Beach Classic presented by Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Long Beach Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Thursday, Dec. 21. The tournament features Illinois State, New Mexico State and Northeastern, in addition to LBSU. The Beach and Illinois State will start the tournament off on Wednesday at 3 p.m., followed by New Mexico and Northeastern facing off at approximately 5 p.m. The losers of the two games on Wednesday, will then meet at noon on Thursday in the consolation game, while the winners will play at approximately 2 p.m. in the championship contest.
Quick Hits
• The Beach are 2-8 on the year with their pair of victories coming on the road at Arizona (80-72) and Grand Canyon (65-63). Long Beach State is 0-4 this year at the Pyramid as the Beach are in search of their first home victory of the year.
• Long Beach State is averaging 10.4 steals per game which is second in the Big West. The Beach have led the league in steals in each of the last four seasons and are just 2 swipes away from leading the conference this season. LBSU's 104 steals on the year are just two shy of Big West Conference leader Cal Poly's 106.
• The Beach leads the Big West in turnovers forced with 19.90 per contest which also ranks 55th in the nation. In their last game, Long Beach State forced No. 7 Tennessee into 17 turnovers.
• Freshman Ma'Qhi Berry had a career-game against No. 7 Tennessee as she led all scorers with a career-high 19 points to go along with career-bests in assists (9) and rebounds (7). She shot 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from the field in the game.
• Freshman guard Shanaijah Davison has led the team offensively with 13.1 points per game as she has recorded six double-figure scoring games and three 20-plus point showings thus far.
Scouting the Redbirds
Illinois State brings a 4-5 record into the Walter Pyramid after having dropped its last three contests to Butler (56-45), Milwaukee (61-59 in OT), and Cleveland State (56-47). The Redbirds, which average 52.3 points per game, are looking to get back on the winning track during the Beach Classic Tournament.
The Redbirds are led offensively Hannah Green who has averaged 13.1 points per game in nine games played. Simone Goofs has seen action in three games this season with two starts and in those three games has averaged 13.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Series vs. Illinois State
Long Beach State and Illinois State will meet for just the fourth time in program history and for the first time since 1984. The Beach own a 2-1 edge in the all-time series after defeating the Redbirds 59-41 in the AIAW National Tournament in 1972, and again 12 years later in Long Beach, Calif., by a score of 105-63. Illinois State's only victory over LBSU came in 1982 when the Redbirds held off the Beach 75-71 in Normal, Ill.
Scouting the Aggies
New Mexico State is 4-6 on the year and 1-2 when playing in road games and 0-2 in neutral site contests. The Aggies are coming off of an 86-64 victory over Pepperdine on Sunday.
The Aggies have three players who are averaging double-figures led by Brooke Salas' 19.9 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 7.6 boards per contest. Additionally, Salas is the team-leader in blocks (15), while she comes in second in steals (12), while dishing out 13 assists on the year.
Gia Pack (15.2 points per game) and Monique Mills (10.3 points per game) round out the double-figure scorers for the Aggies. Pack adds 3.7 rebounds per game and 20 assists, while Mills averages 3.3 boards per game to go along with a team-best 18 steals, 16 assists, and six blocks.
Series vs. New Mexico State
Long Beach State and New Mexico State will go head-to-head for the 22nd time in program history. The Aggies lead the all-time series 13-8. This is the first time since 2009 the two teams will meet. In 2009, New Mexico State came away with a 69-56 victory over LBSU in Las Cruces, N.M. The Beach, however, own a 7-5 record against the Aggies when playing them in Long Beach, Calif.
Scouting the Huskies
Northeastern is 4-5 overall and 2-2 when playing on the road and 0-1 when playing at a neutral site. The Huskies are coming off of a 71-66 victory at Vermont on Sunday which snapped a three-game losing skid.
The Huskies have five players who are averaging double-figures. Jess Genco is the team's leading scorer with 14.3 points per game. She also leads the squad with 54 assists and 11 steals. Claudia Ortiz is the second leading scorer on the team with 13.8 points per game, while Shannon Todd averages 13.4 points per game and Gabby Giacone averages 12.9 points per game. Rounding out the Huskies top scorers is Stella Clark who owns a 12.3 points per game average.
Series vs. Northeastern
The contest between Long Beach State and Northeastern will be the first meeting in program history.
Coming Up
Long Beach State will travel to Newark, N.J., to take part in the NJIT Highlanders Christmas Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29. The Beach will start the tournament against host, NJIT, at 2 p.m. (PT) on Dec. 28. The following day, LBSU will take on either VCU or Penn.
