With a new coach and perhaps a new attitude, the 49ers are definitely ready to kick off a new era this evening—which, of course, happens to be the start of a new season of 49er basketball in the Pyramid. The 49ers will host three-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champ Prairie View A&M, at 7pm.
The university is trying to roll some of the excitement surrounding this year’s men’s basketball team over to the women’s program, by hosting a Monson Maniacs sleepover after tonight’s game, in preparation for Saturday’s Homecoming festivities, and the men’s opener.
Those who are expecting an immediately turnaround from new coach Jody Wynn’s team might do well to remember the rough first season that Dan Monson had with the men’s team. The team does have some great players though, and will look for good performances tonight from Whitney Fields, Lauren Sims, and the fifth-year senior Karina Figueroa.
For more info, check out the official release below, and come back tonight for a recap.
LONG BEACH – The Long Beach State women’s basketball team kicks off the 2009-10 campaign on Friday, Nov. 13, when it plays host to three-time defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Prairie View A&M. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.
THE RECORDS
The match-up between the 49ers and the Panthers on Friday evening is the season opener for both teams.
SCOUTING PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
Prairie View A&M is coming off a 2008-09 season in which it went 23-11, won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. The Panthers welcome back five letterwinners in 2009-10, including their top three scorers in seniors Candice Thomas (12.7 ppg) and Gatti Werema (12.2 ppg), and junior Dominique Smith (10.7 ppg). Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is in her fifth year at the helm of the PVAMU women’s basketball program where she owns a 71-58 record.
THE SERIES
This will mark the first meeting between Long Beach State and Prairie View A&M.
FOR OPENERS
Long Beach State is 27-19 in season openers dating back to the 1963-64 season, but has not won an opener since 2004-05. This will mark the second year in a row that the 49ers kick off the campaign in the friendly confines of the Walter Pyramid. The Beach owns an 18-6 record when opening the season at home.
49ERS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN BWC
Long Beach State was picked to finish fifth in the 2009-10 Big West Conference preseason poll as voted on by the media. The 49ers received 99 points, finishing ahead of Pacific (87), Cal State Fullerton (59), Cal State Northridge (41) and UC Irvine (39).
Two-time defending Big West champion UC Santa Barbara was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 10 first-place votes and 162 total points. The Gauchos were followed by UC Davis (155), Cal Poly (146) and UC Riverside (112), all of whom received at least one first-place nod.
FIELDS AND FIGUEROA NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
The media also voted on a six-player preseason All-Big West team that included 49er seniors Whitney Fields and Karina Figueroa. Fields picked up second-team honors last year after leading the league in rebounding (8.7 rpg). She was also LBSU’s top scorer, averaging 12.6 points per outing.
Figueroa, a three-time All-Big West selection, redshirted the 2008-09 campaign. She currently ranks among the Long Beach State career leaders in free throw percentage (.787), 3-point field goals made (72) and 3-point field goals attempted (223).
NEARING 1,000
Entering her final season at The Beach, Figueroa is just 16 points away from reaching the 1,000-point milestone. The Corona, Calif., native has totaled 984 points in her three years at LBSU.
UP NEXT Long Beach State returns to the court on Monday, Nov. 16, when it welcomes Loyola Marymount to the Walter Pyramid for a 7 p.m. showdown. The 49ers will then embark on a four-game road trip, beginning with contests at New Mexico State (Nov. 20) and Texas-Pan American (Nov. 22).