Freshman guard Alex Sanchez scored a career-high 20 points, but it wasn’t enough offset the Long Beach State women’s basketball team’s shooting inefficiency against the University of Washington on Sunday.
The 49ers shot a dismal 29.1 percent from the field (16-for-50) and committed 24 turnovers to conclude their seven-game road stretch in an 80-46 loss to the Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Despite committing 20 turnovers, the Huskies shot an impressive 54.2 percent from the field (32-for-59) and out-rebounded the ‘Niners, 41-30.
Sanchez converted 7-for-10 from the floor and added team-high five rebounds. Sanchez was also the only LBSU player to shoot over 50 percent. LBSU senior Tipesa Moorer added eight points, while freshman Lauren Spargo had six points.
Huskies guard Jazmine Davis had a team-high 18 points on a stellar 5 of 6 from the field, including a perfect 4 of 4 from the 3-point line. Center Regina Rogers added 12 points and six rebounds, while Mollie Williams chipped in with 10 points and six boards.
Long Beach (2-6) dented the scoreboard first as Moorer sank a pair of free throws 20 seconds into the game, but Washington quickly responded with seven unanswered points. Sanchez closed the gap to 10-7 after completing a 3-point play and following with a layup on the 49ers‘ ensuing possession. The Huskies answered once again, however, using an 11-0 run to go up, 21-7 with 9:26 to play.
Sanchez eventually ended a seven-minute scoring drought for LBSU with a jumper that sparked an 8-2 spurt, cutting the deficit to eight (23-15). After UW pulled back ahead by 11, Spargo and Sanchez drained back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 28-21 with 3:57 remaining, but the Huskies went on to outscore LBSU, 11-2, down the stretch to hold a 39-23 advantage at the break.
Washington (5-2) shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first half, while LBSU converted 25 percent of its shots. Sanchez paced the 49ers with 12 points.
The 49ers came out of the gates strong as they started the second period on an 11-7 run to trail by 12 (46-34) at the 15:39 mark. LBSU was unable to keep the momentum, however, as it was held scoreless over the next five minutes. UW took advantage of the drought as it opened up a 20-point lead with 9:49 to play.
The Huskies would go up by as many as 35 points en route to the win.
LBSU will return to the Walter Pyramid on Thursday when it faces the University of Nevada at 7 p.m.
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