By snoadmin
If you’ve ever listened to the legendary rock group U2, then you’re probably familiar with the hit song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” That appears to be the case for the Long Beach State women’s basketball team.
The 49ers (1-6), who picked up their first victory Sunday after dropping their first six contests, have been looking for the right combination of players all season as they have showcased a different starting lineup in each of its games. Senior Ashley Bookman and freshman Ella Clark were the only two exceptions to start every contest.
“Ashley is somebody that will always bring the intangibles to the floor,” LBSU head coach Jody Wynn said. “She’s always getting offensive rebounds, diving after loose balls and taking charges.
“And Ella, we’ve seen improvement mostly every game with her as far as feeling more comfortable out on the floor.”
Wynn also said youth and preseason injuries played a large part in her decision to make tweaks in the lineup and that it can still change any given day. The Beach’s 16-player roster features seven freshmen, and five 49ers — including two seniors — were on the shelf with various injuries to start the year.
However, the good news for the ‘Niners is that senior Courtney Jacob ¬— who made her season debut in last weekend’s Rainbow Wahine Showdown after being sidelined for lateral release surgery on her left knee — appears to be one of the missing pieces to their unsolved puzzle.
During the three-game stretch, she led the team with 13.3 points and 2.3 assists per game as she converted on an efficient 12-of-21 from the field and 7-of-11 from 3-point range.
“I’m not [surprised] at all,” Wynn said of Jacob’s emergence. “Having [coached] her and seeing her off-court leadership, desire to watch film and to do anything extra in the gym when she’s not cleared to play … I mean, it’s just awesome to see her emerge on the floor and I think she’s going to have a great season.”
Nonetheless, a seemingly disastrous start to the season could potentially be countered this weekend as the 49ers travel to Houston, Texas for the Gene Hackerman Invitational hosted by Rice University.
LBSU will begin the four-team tournament Friday as it squares off against Prairie View A&M at Tudor Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m (PT).
Tabbed to finish second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, the Lady Panthers (2-3) most recently lost to Oklahoma after they registered back-to-back victories over Gardner-Webb and UTEP at the Basketball Traveler’s Invitational last weekend.
LBSU’s toughest defensive assignments will be Siarra Soliz and Latia Williams, who have carried PVAMU’s offense with 12.4 and 12.2 ppg, respectively.
However, LBSU has a little history on its side as it defeated the Lady Panthers, 76-68, in its season opener at the Walter Pyramid last year.
Should the ‘Niners defeat PVAMU on Friday, they will move on to face the winner of Rice/Louisiana-Monroe in the tournament finals Saturday.
“Offensively, I’d like to see us cut down on the turnovers we’re committing,” Wynn said. “We’re playing ‘kick the can’ out there sometimes and the ball is like a hot potato in some [players’] hands.
“Defensively, I’m looking for us to box out and finish the play with a rebound because giving up an offensive rebound can be a killer.”
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