If the Long Beach State women’s basketball team is looking to turn its season around, then it can start by doing something it hasn’t done all year: win consecutive games.
Stringing together victories hasn’t been easy for the 49ers, who have lost 17 of their 21 contests — including six of eight conference match-ups.
However, LBSU head coach Jody Wynn expects The Beach to use Saturday’s 80-79 upset over UC Irvine as an example of what it’s capable of if it plays with the right mindset.
“It should be a confidence booster going into Thursday’s game [against Pacific],” she said. “I want them to feel good about where we are, but we’re nowhere near where we want to be.”
If familiarity helped the ‘Niners in their second meeting against the Anteaters, then there’s no reason why it shouldn’t lead them to victory over the University of the Pacific on Thursday, right?
Well, not so fast.
What happened last time?
Unlike the first contest against UCI, where LBSU found itself vulnerable to the screen and roll and surrendered a season-high 11 3-pointers, turnovers and foul trouble plagued the 49ers in the closing five minutes against UOP.
After all, the ‘Niners were only trailing 59-56 before the Tigers ran away with an 11-point victory.
To make matters worse, LBSU finished the contest with nine fewer turnovers, but was out-rebounded by a whopping 14 and allowed UOP to score 20 second-chance points.
This brings to the point of a legitimate post player, which the 49ers clearly don’t have at this point. Having a proven big in the paint would’ve certainly helped them contain Kendall Rodriguez’s team-leading 15 points and 13 rebounds.
“Rodriguez had a huge game, but we have to rebound,” Wynn said. “We have to continue to battle on the boards because if we rebound the ball, we’ll be in the game.”
Let’s have a glance at the box score to give you a better perspective of LBSU’s rebounding issues that game.
The 49ers’ leader on the boards was freshman Ella Clark, who grabbed only six — two more than her season average and less than half of what Rodriguez had that night.
At 6-3, she’s the only LBSU player taller than 6-1, but don’t let her height fool you.
Clark’s style of play is geared toward that of a finesse player, who prefers taking perimeter shots — particularly 3s.
But wait, there’s good news.
A glance at Pacific
The Tigers have lost 14 of their 19 contests, including four of six during Big West play.
As a result, UOP only holds a one-game lead for seventh place over LBSU in the nine-team conference and are coming off a 65-57 home loss to UC Davis.
Freshman center Danielle Peacon leads UOP, averaging 12.4 ppg and 7.2 rebounds, but The Beach held her to just two points on 1-of-4 shooting and five rebounds on Jan. 15.
A possible triple-threat
Despite not having a presence in paint, The Beach has witnessed a mid-season emergence from one of its freshmen guards, Sendy Valles.
Valles — who started the last six contests — recorded a career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range and three steals in LBSU’s recent win over UCI.
A week before, she set a then-career-high with 16 points against Pacific and nearly doubled her scoring average to 9.7 ppg since being inserted into the starting lineup.
“In the beginning of the season, I was trying create and do too much because my problem was understanding my role on the team,” said Valles, who ranks third on the team in scoring during conference play. “Now, I have a really good idea of how things work and I’m a lot more confident, and my shot is dropping [in].”
If that wasn’t enough, Valles has shot a team-best 50 percent from the field in eight conference games.
Although it’s uncertain whether Valles can be a consistent offensive threat, Wynn said her recent numbers have made a strong case for the No. 3 scoring option behind freshman Brandi Henton (13.9 ppg) and senior Courtney Jacob (12.4 ppg).
“We’re looking for consistent performers,” Wynn said. “We gotta have three kids who can score on a consistent basis, whoever it is.
“But we’re proud of Sendy’s progression and it’s been paying off in the game because she’s performed really well in practice.”
The 49ers will continue Big West action in a 7 p.m. showdown Thursday against Pacific at the Walter Pyramid.
Big West Player of the Week
Jacob was named Big West Player of the Week on Monday after she delivered the game-winning free throw in last Saturday’s 80-79 win over UCI.
She averaged 14 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in two games during the week.
Injury report
Freshman guard Chantel Dooley tore the meniscus in her right knee and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
However, Wynn said the coaching staff will be petitioning for a medical redshirt, which will enable her to retain her freshman year.
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