49er women win close game against Hawaii, blow out Fullerton

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team got back on the winning track by taking down the Big West’s top-ranked Hawaii in a 74-72 game that was close throughout.

The Beach got things started off how it had hoped, with good post defense and constant commotion down low. Senior Jade Wilson, who set a career-high 24 points and 10 boards, played a key role in the paint production as the 49ers didn’t rely on their outside shots.

The 49ers frustrated Hawaii senior star forward Kamilah Jackson and was able to hand her an early exit with two quick fouls in the first six minutes of the first half.

An earlier exit was made by LBSU freshman and the 49ers’ scoring leader, Raven Benton, who picked up two fouls in as many minutes and didn’t play the rest of the first half. She played a key role in the second half, though, registering 15 points and keeping the fouls to a minimum.

“[Benton] didn’t allow her foul trouble to take her out of the game,” head coach Jody Wynn said. “She doesn’t get rattled by a lot. And she’s low maintenance, no drama. We never had any issues of selfishness or an issue of her teammates not liking her because she’s a freshman.”

Wilson took advantage of the Jackson-less Rainbow Wahine in the first half, going 4-for-5 down low.

The senior from Tempe, Ariz. put The Beach on her back in the second half again and finished the game playing 39 minutes. Which is necessary given just eight bodies and Alex Sanchez still nursing an injury.

“It’s nice to see the smile on her face and know that the extra work she puts in,” Wynn said. “She shoots tons of free throws. She knows it’s her big weakness. She came back in shape and stronger this year. For her to play with confidence and see it all come together was a beautiful. She earned every point tonight.”

If it wasn’t for the 11 turnovers and 7-for-13 shooting from the charity stripe in the first half, the 49ers would have been on the other end of the Perry Moore scoreboard, as they shot 48 percent compared to Hawaii’s 40.6 percent.

Jackson picked up two more fouls and was forced to the sideline once again but this time it was just 1:52 into the second half and she didn’t return until the final minutes.

“I think we went at her offensively,” Wynn said. “We got Jade the ball. We got her the ball early and often. And Kamial picked up a couple fouls trying to guard Jade and that kind of took her out of her game. Our team defense and the fact that Jade didn’t shy away from attacking the rim.”

In a game in which it was hard to establish a run with 59 free throws attempted, the game never saw a double digit lead.

After LBSU held a lead for much of the final few minutes, the Rainbow Wahine nailed consecutive treys to take a 67-66 lead with 2:36 left in regulation.

Wilson continued to play her best game of the season and took the lead on a layup that gave the 49ers the lead for good. The 49ers made their free throws when they needed to, going 6-for-6 in the final minute.

Two days later, the 49ers took the short drive to Fullerton and improved to 12-9 overall and 4-3 in the Big West with an 83-64 win at the Titan Gym.

After a back-and-forth first half, the 49ers sparked a 24-2 run in the final eight minutes of the first half.

The Beach continued to play well in the second half with a 17-8 run that made it 57-38 with 13:57 to play. The 49ers wouldn’t have a lead less than 12 the rest of the game.

Junior Hallie Meneses les the way with 18 points and a career-high nine assists and no turnovers. Freshman Jewelyn Sawyer stepped up in the absence of Alex Sanchez and recorded her first double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

LBSU heads to UC Irvine on Thursday before returning to the Pyramid on Saturday to host UC Riverside.