Story By LBSU’s Andrea Ohta

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team led wire-to-wire as it defeated Cal State Northridge, 63-50, in a crucial Big West Conference game at the Walter Pyramid Wednesday night.

With the win, LBSU improved to 6-17 overall and 3-8 in the Big West, moving out of last place in the conference standings.

Although the 49ers had a season-high 30 turnovers, they held a dominating advantage over the Matadors in both field goal percentage (45.1 to 28.8 percent) and on the boards (53-34).

Junior Lauren Sims led The Beach with her third consecutive 21-point game, going 6-for-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Sims also added a season-high 10 rebounds for her second career double-double. Junior Courtney Jacob was the 49ers’ second-leading scorer with nine points. Freshman Adelle Walton added eight points and eight assists.

Junior Brett Timmons sparked a key 49er run in the second half with eight points and seven rebounds, while classmate Whitney Fields finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Long Beach State jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage following a 3-pointer by Walton at the 15:44 mark. The 49ers quickly extended their lead to 14 points (19-5) on a three from sophomore LaTorya Barbee with 11:49 remaining. Despite going through a 3:29 scoring drought and converting just one field goal in the final 6:50 of play, LBSU went into the break up by a 28-16 margin.

The 49ers shot just 38.5 percent from the field in the first half, but held CSUN to a dismal 21.4 field goal percentage. Sims kept The Beach out front with 13 of her 21 points as she was 4-for-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from long distance.

CSUN (5-17, 2-7 BWC) went on a 14-5 spurt to start the second period, cutting the 49er lead to 33-29, but Long Beach State countered as Timmons reeled off eight unanswered points over a 2:34 span to put the 49ers back up by 16 with 11:04 to play.

The Matadors would give LBSU one more scare, pulling within six (56-50) on a Bianca Davies jumper at the 4:19 mark. The 49ers were able to pull away, however, holding CSUN scoreless while hitting five free throws down the stretch.

Jasmine Erving led Cal State Northridge with 16 points and nine rebounds. Katrina Thompson also finished the evening in double figures with 11 points.

Long Beach State is back in the ‘Myd on Saturday when it entertains Texas-Pan American in a 5pm non-conference tilt.