By snoadmin
ANAHEIM – Long Beach State women’s basketball head coach Mary Hegarty had her first attempt to turn a 7-22 basketball team into Big West Conference champion Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center in the first round of the Big West Tournament.
So far so good.
The 49ers’ locker room exuded confidence Wednesday – and it showed, as the 49ers cruised to a 76-64 win over UC Irvine, advancing the 49ers to the quarterfinals.
“We always knew we had potential and we always knew we were a good team,” Kaiti O’Brien said. “People have been stepping up in their roles, and I think it’s been helping us get the points that we’ve gotten in the last two games.”
O’Brien was the first to get The Beach on board during the first half. Freshman Courtney Jacob tied the game 4-4 with an easy layup. Another layup by Tyresha Calhoun followed by a 3-pointer from Karina Figueroa, secured a 9-6 lead early in the first half, and the 49ers never looked back. They ended the half 48-28, the most points the team has scored in one half all season.
“I was pleased with the way we opened things up,” Hegarty said. “The fact that we scored this many points is big for us. We’ve never had a big lead all year, so this was a good experience for us.”
In her first Big West Tournament, Jacob was on a roll for the 49ers, scoring 11 points in the first half and two in the second, leaving her three points away from matching her career-high 16.
O’Brien was the team’s largest producer. O’Brien scored 14 points and got 11 rebounds, making this her third straight double-double. Ally Wade also scored 14, and Calhoun and Figueroa both added 10 points each.
“The fact that we had such balanced scoring this game, it opened up the game for everyone else, and everyone started getting buckets,” Jacob said.
The team’s ability to come together as one on the court was a big part of its win, according to Hegarty. The team was also strong with its 3-point shooting, going 9-for-20, something they have struggled with all year.
“I think the fact that we just clicked a little bit on the 3-point shooting really helped us quite a bit,” Hegarty said. “It’s a lot easier to open up a lead when your threes are hitting.”
Prior to the game, UCI head coach Molly Tuter suspended Annie Mai, Miranda Forry and Kirian Ishizaki this week due to “conduct detrimental to the team,” a tearful Tuter said. This left the Anteaters without three of their best players.
Even with a full roster, UC Irvine was no match for the 49ers, as LBSU defeated the Anteaters 77-63 in the final regular season game last weekend.
LBSU won’t be able to point to previous success for its quarterfinal opponent, Cal Poly. The Mustangs beat LBSU 61-50 and 67-51 this season.
“Poly has a lot of strength and a lot of athleticism. They’re probably the hottest team coming down the stretch,” Hegarty said.
Women’s Basketball Quarterfinal Preview Who: No. 6 Long Beach State (8-22) vs. No. 3 Cal Poly (14-13)
Where: Anaheim Convention Center
When: Noon
Listen: LongBeachState.com
