WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
UC Davis (17-8, 9-3 BWC) at
Long Beach State (12-14, 8-5 BWC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 25
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: Walter Pyramid
Series Record: LBSU leads, 9-6
Long Beach State will close out the home portion of its 2010 schedule this week when it plays host to UC Davis and Pacific this weekend, starting with the Aggies on Thursday. The 49ers lost to Davis a month ago, and a win could almost clinch them a top four seed, which means a first round bye in the Big West Conference Tournament.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
UC Davis defeated The Beach, 80-68, in its only game last week. Paige Mintun has paced the Aggies with 12.0 points per game. Heidi Heintz (11.0 ppg) and Kasey Riecks (10.2 ppg) are also averaging double figures, while Heintz is the team’s leading rebounder at 4.8 boards per outing.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Long Beach State (13-14, 6-7 BWC) at
UC Davis (11-15, 6-6 BWC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 25
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: The Pavilion
Series Record: LBSU leads, 9-2
This could be the most important game for the 49ers. Sitting one spot behind UC Davis in the standings, a win will put The Beach in position for the fourth spot and that coveted bye. What else is on the line this weekend? Long Beach can finish second if it wins its final three games, Pacific loses its last four games (vs. UCR, vs. LBSU, @ CSF, @ CSUN) and Cal State Fullerton loses two of three with its losses coming at Cal Poly and at home to UC Davis. The Beach would claim second after a tie-breaker is used against Pacific based on the 49ers win over first-place UC Santa Barbara earlier this season. UCSB swept Pacific this season. LBSU can miss the tournament and finish last if it is swept, both UC Riverside and UC Irvine win two of eir last three, and Cal State Northridge wins two of its last four.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
The Beach defeated UC Davis, 80-58, two weeks ago in the ‘Myd. The key will be the Aggie guard tandem of Joe Harden and Mark Payne. The big ball handlers love to drive and kick (147 assists combined) and players like Dominic Calegari (16 ppg) have taken advantage. The Beach took control of the first match up with good defense in the first half, and turned on the offense in the second half by simply out running the Aggies. The key will be if LBSU can travel with those spry legs.