Sports, Women's Basketball, Women's Sports

New season, new chance for LBSU

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team will begin a new season on Friday night against San Diego State in the Walter Pyramid, and will take on Portland State on Sunday afternoon.

The 49ers are coming off one of the best seasons in head coach Jody Wynn’s tenure, finishing 22-10 overall and getting into the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. It was also the first time LBSU cracked the 20-win mark since the 1990-91 season.

For that reason, junior guard Anna Kim has had this game against the Aztecs pinned on her calendar for a while.

“Our team is super excited,” Kim said. “You know San Diego State brings a good team and we’ve been preparing for a long time and I think it’s time for Long Beach to see what women’s basketball is all about.”

Coming back this season for the 49ers are seven letter winners from the 2014-15 squad including junior guard and leading scorer Raven Benton and Kim, who said she has taken the role of being a team leader.

Kim said that staying healthy will be the most important component for the 49ers success this season.

Injuries derailed the 49ers last season, the most striking was an injury to Benton. A dual-threat for LBSU last season, averaging 11.5 points and 5 rebounds per game, Benton went down with a season-ending injury on Feb. 14 against Cal Poly.

However, if the injury bug bites again, this year’s team is more versatile than last season’s because of players like junior forward Madison Montgomery. The six-foot-one junior forward can play in front of the basket and also shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor.

Like LBSU, SDSU heads into this matchup returning eight letter-winners and several starters from a year ago. Although the Aztecs record last season was 12-19 overall, the 49ers aren’t underestimating their opponent who also added four new transfers.

“They’re going to be athletic, quick, and aggressive,” Kim said. “I’m pretty sure they have a couple tall girls, but I know that they’re athletic and they’re going to trap. I think we have to run at our own pace, be composed and it will be a really good game.”

Since both teams play a similar style of defense, Wynn believes Friday night’s opener will be a competitive match.

“[SDSU] is extremely talented, they got a lot of high-caliber recruits on their roster,” Wynn said. “A couple fifth-year seniors, so they’re experienced and athletic. They love to push the tempo and play full court press and love to generate points off their defense.”

LBSU dominates the all-time series against the Aztecs, having won 51 of the 57 games played. The 49ers defeated the Aztecs 74-62 last season at San Diego. The 49ers are 4-0 in home openers at the Walter Pyramid since Wynn has been at the helm.

“We’re happy to open up at home in front of our friends and family,” Wynn said. “Win or lose, we’re going to compete on every possession and play our hearts out.”

Friday night’s game against the Aztecs will start at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s game against the Vikings is scheduled for 2 p.m. Both games will be played at the Walter Pyramid.

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