Game report by guest writer Sergio Ascencio.
The game was erratic, sloppy and ugly – yet ended in one of the most exciting ways possible.
With just 5.4 seconds remaining, and trailing UC Davis by three, Long Beach State head coach Mary Hegarty drew up the “perfect play” to get star guard Karina Figueroa the ball. But much like the entire season has gone for the 49ers, things didn’t work out as planned.
Figueroa, who led the team with 11 points, was left hanging as the ball ended up in the hands of Valeriya Musina. One of the better second-options in the conference, Musina had just hit a three-pointer 50 seconds earlier to keep Long Beach State in the game. But hurried by the clock and trapped by two Aggies, Musina’s shot drew iron at the buzzer. Game over: UC Davis 51, Long Beach State 48.
The guard-heavy 49ers came into the game hoping to run and create fast-break opportunities, while the Aggies prefer the Princeton half-court offense. But defense made this contest ugly with both teams combining for 46 turnovers (24 by the 49ers).
Credit both teams’ defensive efforts. The Princeton offense looked very elementary (shooting 32.7% from the field) and Long Beach State looked like the “Showtime” Lakers of old… but the exact opposite (3:1 turnover to assist ratio).
“Our attitude is supposed to be to attack every time we touch the ball,” said Hegarty, whose team falls to 4-16 (2-7). “But for some reason we held up at times.”
With the win, the Aggies completed the regular season sweep of the 49ers after a similar 51-49 win up in Davis.
After an impressive 18 minutes of lockdown defense in the first half, Long Beach State surrendered a 9-0 run before going into the break down 26-23.
Tyresha Calhoun had nine points and seven rebounds for the 49ers before fouling out with 2:01 left in the game. Figueroa had three steals to go with her 11 points and LaTorya Barbee added 10 points on the night.
The 49ers return to the court Saturday night when they host Pacific University and hold “Think Pink Night.” Half of all ticket sales will go toward funding for Breast Cancer research and the first 600 fans in attendance will receive a free T-shirt.
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In slightly more positive news: local high school athletes are really, really good.
This Wednesday marked Signing Day, a once passed-over event that now commands attention from reporters and bloggers from faraway lands. It’s the chance for high school athletes to officially declare where they will be attending college.
Long Beach Poly led the area with fourteen (!!!) signees, including ten players from the football team. Vaughn Telemaque (Miami) and Jurrell Casey (USC) highlighted the pack, but the real Poly steal (which the Press Telegram completely neglected) was the signing of senior forward Jasmine Dixon to Rutgers.
Dixon has been the Jackrabbits’ leader all season during a year in which Poly has consistently been ranked among the Top 5 teams in the nation, and the 6’1 guard will almost certainly be named the Moore League Player of the Year soon.
Next year, she’ll suit up for the Scarlet Knights, fresh off last year’s unlikely championship game run. Rutgers also upset previously undefeated UCONN just the other day.
Among other Moore League teams, Lakewood and Compton will also send off football players to the Division I level. Congrats to all of the signees – you make us Long Beach sports nuts proud!