Feb. 12, 2011

Final Stats

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Courtney Jacob made a free throw with 4.5 seconds to go and UC Davis was unable to convert on the other end as time expired as Long Beach State upset UC Davis 60-59 on Saturday afternoon in a Big West Conference women's basketball game at the Walter Pyramid.

The Aggies lost their second straight game for the first time this year, falling to 17-7 overall and 7-5 in the Big West. Paige Mintun scored in double figures for the 16th straight consecutive game, finishing with 14 points to lead UC Davis which shot just 32.2 percent from the field.

Long Beach State, which trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, picked up 17 points from Jacob and 13 from Brandi Henton to improve to 7-19 overall and 5-7 in league play. Like UC Davis, the 49ers struggled from the field, making just 32.8 percent but benefitted with six fewer turnovers after halftime. They outscored UC Davis 10-3 off turnovers over the final 20 minutes.

"The difference really was that in the second half we had 12 turnovers," said Aggie coach Sandy Simpson. "We shot just as poorly in both halves but we gave ourselves fewer opportunities in the second half. The turnover difference completely flipped in the second half and essentially gave Long Beach State that many more scoring opportunities."

The end was a thrilling one, set up by Jacob canning a corner three with 53 seconds left that put the 49ers in front, 58-55. Mintun was fouled on the Aggies' next possession, making a pair from the line to make it a one-point game.

Facing fullcourt pressure on the ensuing inbounds, the 49ers got to the stripe when Melanie Lisnock broke toward the Long Beach State basket, took a long pass and was fouled by Hana Asano as she tried a layup. Lisnock made 1 of 2 for a 59-57 lead but Heidi Heintz answered within an inside bucket on the other end to tie it again with just 12 seconds remaining.

Jacob, though, moved quickly back the other way, drawing a foul from Vicky Deely in the key with 4.5 seconds on the clock. She missed the first but made the second for a 60-59 advantage. UC Davis was able to push the ball into the frontcourt but Riecks' shot from the left side of the lane was contested and rolled off the rim as time expired.

The loss was a disappointing one for the Aggies who forged double-digit leads in both halves.

UC Davis used a 10-3 run during the middle portion of the first half to turn a four-point lead into a 30-19 advantage with 5:22 on the clock. Four different players scored during the run, highlighted by three points from Deely and a three-pointer from Lauren Juric. But trailing by 10 with 3:28 to play, Long Beach State scored the final seven points to only go into the break down 32-29.

UC Davis had just three turnovers in the first half and made five three-pointers.The 49ers outrebounded the Aggies 29-21 in the first half, including grabbing 13 on the offensive side. UC Davis was able to turn the tide in the second half, outbreounding them 23-17 with only four of the 49ers' boards on their half of the court.

Three-pointers by Riecks and Mintun helped the Aggies score the first eight points after halftime to make it 40-29, a lead that reached its pinnacle at 43-31 after another trey from Riecks. Long Beach State slowly bit into the deficit, though, getting it to just 50-47 with 8:07 to go after a layup from Tipesa Moorer.

Guard Brandi Henton's three-pointer tied it at 52-52 almost three minutes later before Sendy Velles' jumper put the 49ers in front for the first time since the first half, 54-53. The game was tied once more, 55-55 with 1:35 to play before the exciting finish.

"We've got to develop a little bit more aggressive mentality against the zone," said Simpson. "We didn't knock down three's in the second half like we did in the first half but part of that was we were a little bit tentative."

Riecks and Samantha Meggison each had nine points for UC Davis while Mintun had a team-high eight rebounds. The Aggies also had a season-low three steals. Henton added 11 rebounds for Long Beach State.

The Aggies, who are now in fourth place with four games to play, will take a break from Big West action until resuming at home against UC Riverside on Feb. 24. They'll host Seattle in a nonconference game next Friday. Tipoff at The Pavilion is 7 p.m.