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49ers
bounce past UC Davis for fifth straight
victory
By
Donovin Matthews
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
After
bouncing back from a lackluster first half
of shooting, the Long Beach State women's
basketball team (17-6, 11-3 Big West) continued
to roll, extending their win streak to five
games as they defeated host UC Davis 70-59
Monday night.
Led
by guard Crystal McCutcheon's game-high
of 19 points (11 of them coming in the second
half) and center Petra Glaser's double-double
performance of 16 points and 10 rebounds,
the 49ers used strong starts to begin each
half.
Senior
point guard Candice Wilson led LBSU with
nine assists. Wilson was also effective
defensively, making several deflections,
which helped forced the Aggie starting guards
into commiting 11 turnovers.
"Every
game we have an advantage at the guard position,"
49er Head Coach Marty Hegarty said. "We're
able to pressure teams into mistakes. We
feel ball pressure starts our defense, and
we didn't do it that well in the first half.
When we do that, it's difficult for opposing
teams, no matter who they are."
Although
LBSU jumped out to a quick start with a
9-2 run to begin the game, the 49ers were
unable to maintain their first half success.
The Beach shot a dismal 36 percent from
the field (9 of 25) and quickly found themselves
behind UC Davis at halftime, 29-22.
Adjustments
were made by the 49ers after intermission.
Freshman guard Jeannie Saunders' two straight
three-pointers ignited yet another run,
giving LBSU a 41-35 lead with 13:02 left
to play.
Moments
later, a drive to the hoop by senior guard
Aisha Hollans made the score 45-35 with
12:26 left, capping off a 10-0 49er run.
LBSU would make five of nine three-pointers
in the second half while shooting 53 percent
(17 of 32) from the field.
"They
were packing it in the paint," Wilson
said. "We just wanted to make the zone
move and attack all the gaps and try to
penetrate and kick it out to our shooters."
The
Aggies attempted to rally as UC Davis guard
Kimberly Smith knocked down a three-pointer
with 2:00 remaining, making it 61-57. The
comeback was halted however as the 49ers
shot eight for eight down the stretch from
the free throw line to put the game out
of reach.
With
Monday's victory over UC Davis and last
Thursday's win over UC Irvine, LBSU has
13 victory in their last 15 games, putting
the team in second place in the Big West
Conference behind UC Santa Barbara.
The
49ers return home for their final two home
games of the regular season when they host
Utah State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and
Idaho on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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