Dec. 31, 2008

LONG BEACH -

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Long Beach State (3-8, 0-0 BWC)
at UC Santa Barbara (4-6, 0-0 BWC)
Date: Friday, Jan. 2, 2009
Location: The Thunderdome
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Series Record: Tied, 39-39
Current Streak: UCSB won 5

Long Beach State (3-8, 0-0 BWC)
at Cal Poly (7-4, 0-0 BWC)
Date: Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009
Location: Mott Gym
Time: 4 p.m. (PST)
Series Record: LBSU leads, 34-11
Current Streak: LBSU won 1

The Long Beach State women's basketball team will kick off its 2009 schedule on the road as it opens Big West Conference play at UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly this weekend. The 49ers will head to UCSB on Friday, Jan. 2, for a 7 p.m. (PST) contest before making their way to Cal Poly two days later for a 4 p.m. (PST) showdown with the Mustangs.

THE RECORDS
The Beach is 3-8 in pre-conference action and is looking to bounce back from a tough 76-63 loss at Fresno State. UCSB (4-6, 0-0 BWC) recently snapped a three-game skid with a 55-47 triumph over Santa Clara on Sunday (Dec. 28). Cal Poly, meanwhile, is 7-4 on the season and is riding a two-game winning streak heading into conference play.

THE SERIES
LBSU and UCSB are tied in the all-time series at 39-39 with the Gauchos topping the 49ers in the last five outings. The Beach opened the series with 37 straight wins but since 1992, it has dropped 39 of 41 meetings with UCSB. LBSU's most recent win came on Jan. 7, 2006, when it claimed a 58-52 victory in Long Beach. The 49ers are 16-17 when playing in Santa Barbara.

Long Beach State leads in its series with Cal Poly by a 34-11 count and claimed a 78-62 road win in the last meeting on March 6, 2008. The 49ers are 9-8 when playing in San Luis Obispo.

IN BWC OPENERS
Long Beach State is 11-9 in Big West opening games and is 5-5 when kicking off its conference slate on the road. The 49ers, who will begin BWC play against UC Santa Barbara for the sixth year in a row, are 1-5 against the Gauchos in league openers.

SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS
UCSB (4-6, 0-0 BWC) recently ended a three-game skid with a 55-37 victory over Santa Clara (Dec. 28). On the season, senior Lauren Pedersen has paced the Gauchos with 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest, while classmate Whitney Warren is tops on the team with 5.1 rpg. Lindsay Gottlieb is in her first year at the helm of the UC Santa Barbara women's basketball program.

A GLANCE AT THE MUSTANGS
Led by 12th-year head coach Faith Mimnaugh, Cal Poly is off to a 7-4 start and is riding a two-game winning streak heading into Big West Conference action. The Mustangs have a trio of double-figure scorers, including sophomore Kristina Santiago (13.5 ppg), senior Megan Harrison (12.8 ppg) and senior Lisa McBride (11.7 ppg). McBride is also tops on the squad with 6.4 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT
The Beach will return home next weekend as it continues Big West play against Pacific and UC Davis. The 49ers will host the Tigers on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m., before welcoming the Aggies to the Walter Pyramid on Saturday (Jan. 10) for a 5 p.m. contest.