The Long Beach State women’s basketball team used a balanced effort to snap a three-game skid to defeat Columbia University, 70-61, Friday night at Levien Gymnasium in New York, N.Y.
Five 49ers scored in double figures, with freshmen guards Alex Sanchez and Chantel Dooley, and junior Jhakia McDonald finishing with 11 points apiece. It marked a season-high for both Dooley and McDonald.
Sophomore Ella Clark and senior Tipesa Moorer chipped in 10 points each as they have both reached double figures in four of LBSU’s five games. Clark also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, while Moorer dished out a team-best four assists.
LBSU (2-3) out rebounded Columbia, 44-28, and had 27 offensiv eboards, which led to 30 second chance points.
LBSU raced out to an 8-1 advantage after a 3-pointer by Dooley at the 15:57 mark. After the Lions closed the gap to two, the 49ers went on a 16-4 run, capped by a Mary Ochiltree layup, to take their largest lead of the night at 24-10 with 8:04 to play.
Columbia (0-5) slowly started to chip away and pulled back within five with just under two minutes remaining, but Ochiltree hit a 3-pointer at the 1:25 mark to put Long Beach on top, 36-28, at the half.
The 49ers shot 38.2 percent from the field in the first period and won the battle on the boards, 26-10. Sixteen of LBSU’s rebounds were on the offensive end. Ochiltree led the team with eight points and five boards in the first half.
Columbia got off to a quick start after the break as Tyler Simpson completed a three-point play to make it 36-31 after just 11 seconds into the half. The Lions stayed within seven until McDonald closed out a 13-7 run that put the 49ers up, 57-44, at the 8:20 mark. But the home team outscored LBSU, 10-2, over the next four minutes to make it 64-59 with 4:23 remaining.
The 49ers were able to hold on, however, as they went back on top by eight with 3:24 to play before prevailing, 70-61.
Melissa Shafer led Columbia with 17 points, while Simpson had 15.
LBSU will be back in action Saturday when it heads to New Rochelle, N.Y., where it will take on Iona College at 1 p.m. (PT).
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