Long Beach State Downs Penn State, Advances to Cal Classic Championship Game

Friday, November 29

Berkeley, Calif.

3:15 PM

Long Beach State University

2-4,0-0Big West

Penn State

3-4,0-0Big Ten

Penn St.

Long Beach St.

Long Beach State Downs Penn State, Advances to Cal Classic Championship Game

11/29/2019 7:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Justina King led a trio of double-figure scorers with 16 points in the victory

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

Hear what @beachwbb head coach Jeff Cammon has to say about the Beach's 64-56 victory over Penn State at the Cal Classic #GoBeach #YouGoWeGo pic.twitter.com/D4vnOELe8d
— LBSU W Basketball (@beachwbb) November 30, 2019

Box Score (PDF)

BERKELEY, Calif. – After an early bucket by Penn State, Long Beach State knocked down five-straight points to jump out to a 7-2 lead and never looked back. The Beach would hold the lead over the Lady Lions the rest of the game earning a 64-56 victory on the first day of the Cal Classic at Haas Pavilion.

With the win, Long Beach State (2-4) advances to the Championship Game to face host, Cal, on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:15 p.m.

The Beach shot 41.1 percent in the game, while the Lady Lions (3-4) shot 40.7 percent from the field. The biggest difference maker in the game came in turnovers as LBSU forced Penn State 24 turnovers which the Beach converted into 20 points.

Leading the way for Long Beach State with four steals was redshirt sophomore Ma'Qhi Berry who finished the game with four, while senior Cydnee Kinslow swiped three. Berry joined sophomore Justina King and junior Shanaijah Davison in double-figures as she registered 14 points, while King led the squad with 16, and Davison also notched 14.

Ma'Qhi Berry lays it in to give @beachwbb a 22-13 lead over Penn State at the end of the 1st quarter #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/jOZFb0kn5s
— LBSU W Basketball (@beachwbb) November 29, 2019

Sophomore Lauren Green led the Beach with seven rebounds, while Kinslow collected six. Green also contributed eight points on offense.

The Beach forced five turnovers in the opening frame and went on a 9-0 run to open up a 10-point lead (20-10) over the Lady Lions. Long Beach State shot 57.1 percent (8-for-14) from the field in the first quarter as the Beach held a 22-13 lead over Penn State heading into the second period.

The commanding lead helped LBSU, as Penn State shot 46.2 percent in the second quarter and outscore the Beach 15-12, yet, Long Beach State still held a six-point lead (34-28) at halftime.

Both teams settled in during the third quarter and matched each other point-for-point and shot 35 percent from the field. The Beach continued holding their two-possession lead (47-41) into the final 10 minutes of action and, despite the Lady Lions' efforts, kept Penn State at a distance.

Long Beach State extended its lead back up to 10 (51-41) on a layup by Berry with 7:13 remaining, but Penn State would whittle that lead down to five (53-48) on a three by Kamaira McDaniel with 4:02 left to play. The Beach were unfazed as they remained in control of the game the rest of the way before earning a 64-56 victory.

Penn State's Makenna Marisa led the Lady Lions with 16 points, while McDaniel added 12.