LBSU women's basketball team makes it two straight

By Rick Alonzo, Online Forty-Niner

Thursday, November 19, 1998

It's hard to miss 6-foot-8 Rhonda Smith.

But Tuesday night, the spindly Long Beach State center made sure she got noticed.

In just 17 minutes, Smith tallied 17 points on seven of 10 shooting, seven rebounds, three steals and six blocked shots as she led the 49er women's basketball team to victory, 70-47, over visiting Weber State at The Pyramid.

"I just try to do my best while I'm out there so my team can win," said Smith, a junior in her first season as a 49er after transferring from Trinity Valley Junior College in Athens, Texas. "I want to dominate the game in rebounding and scoring."

And if she gets more time on the floor, Smith seems set to break the 49er record for blocks in a game. Former 49ers Lisa Ellis and Ja'net Davis share the mark with eight blocks. But Smith is also focused on her all-around game.

During one play, Smith energized the 509 in attendance as she intercepted a pass and dribbled down the court. She then passed the ball and got it back for a quick score under the goal, which extended the 49ers' lead to 47-33 in the second half, as Wildcat Shelley Olson fouled her.

"Everybody in the stands went nuts," 49er Coach Dallas Boychuk said. "But I'm used to seeing [Rhonda] do that in practice. She's so mobile, she has great hands and she's quick."

Smith's blocks were part of a Long Beach (2-0) defense that shut down Weber State's offense as the Wildcats shot just 21 percent in the game, including 16 percent in the second half. Long Beach shot 46 percent in the game and widened its 31-21 halftime lead by pressuring the Wildcats' offense. That quickened the pace of the game, which favored the more athletic 49ers.

Although Weber State (0-1) won the rebounding battle, snatching 54, including 31 offensive, to Long Beach's 45, the Wildcats hurt themselves by making just 15 baskets.

"They played good defense, but some of the blame goes to our shot selection," Wildcat Coach Carla Taylor said. "We can't take it the whole way and shake and bake. We're a perimeter team and we have to take good shots."

Olson and Jill Hansen led the Wildcats in scoring with nine points apiece. As they did in the season-opening win over Fresno State, Long Beach reserves continued to give the 49ers strong contributions. Forward Kesha Wade scored 12 points and had three steals in 16 minutes. Point guard Chelsea Cooper added six assists and a pair of steals in 12 minutes.

If her reserves continue to play well, Boychuk said it will get tougher to decide who should start, especially down low.

Boychuk said, "It's a good situation when you have four [post] players that can start."