Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score

LONG BEACH - Senior Courtney Jacob came up big in the final minute to lift the Long Beach State women's basketball team to a 60-59 victory over UC Davis in Big West action Saturday evening at the Walter Pyramid.

With the score knotted at 55-55, Jacob nailed a 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining. She then sank the game-winning free throw with five ticks on the clock. Jacob finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Freshman Brandi Henton registered her second consecutive double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Classmate Sendy Valles chipped in nine points and five boards.

The 49ers (7-19, 5-7 BWC) shot 32.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Aggies, 46-44. LBSU also committed only 14 turnovers.

UC Davis (17-7, 7-5 BWC) took an early 10-6 lead before the 49ers scored five unanswered points to go up, 11-10, at the 14:27 mark. The Aggies then went back on top after a 3-pointer by Blair Shinoda. That started a 10-0 run, which put the visitors up, 20-11, with 11:10 remaining.

Henton eventually ended a five-minute scoring drought for The Beach with a three, but the Aggies pulled back ahead by 11 with 5:22 on the clock. LBSU started to chip away around the 3:30 mark, using a 7-0 spurt down the stretch, which was capped by an Ella Clark jumper at the buzzer, to cut the deficit to 32-29 at the break.

Both teams shot 32.4 percent from the field in the first half. LBSU also held a 29-21 advantage on the boards. Henton and Jacob led the 49ers with eight points apiece.

UCD scored eight consecutive points to start the second half as they took a 40-29 lead with 18:21 to play. The Aggies stayed out front, until LBSU went on a 12-4 run to go up, 54-53, at the 3:23 mark. Paige Mintun then sank a pair of free throws for UC Davis to regain a 55-54 advantage. After Henton made 1-of-3 from the charity stripe, Jacob nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to put LBSU on top, 58-55, with 53 seconds remaining.

The Aggies eventually evened the score at 59-59 with 12 seconds to go, but Jacob then drove to the basket and was fouled with five ticks on the clock. She went on to make 1-of-2 to give LBSU the 60-59 win.

Paige Mintun paced UC Davis with 14 points and eight rebounds. Kasey Riecks and Samantha Meggison chipped in nine points apiece.

Long Beach State returns to the Walter Pyramid on Thursday, Feb. 17, when it entertains UC Riverside in a 7 p.m. Big West showdown. The 49ers will honor their seniors, Ashley Bookman, Courtney Jacob and Melanie Lisnock, following their final regular season home game.