The Long Beach State women’s basketball team is looking for its sixth and seventh consecutive wins in a weekend that includes a trip to Honolulu, Hawai’i.
The 49ers (17-5, 6-2) visit the Rainbow Wahine (14-9, 7-3) on Thursday and then host UC Santa Barbara (8-15, 5-4) inside the Walter Pyramid on Saturday.
During their five-game run, the 49ers have scored an average of 69.4 points per game while only allowing teams to score an average of 61.6 points. But on Thursday the 49ers take on Hawai’i , a team that’s won four straight games and five out of its last six.
“[Hawai’i is] big, physical and skilled,” 49er head coach Jody Wynn said.
The first meeting between both teams ended with a 49er loss, 67-55, at the Walter Pyramid on Jan. 7.
“We got to move the ball better than we did last time against them,” Wynn said. “I think we were stationary a lot within the offense the first time around and we got to have more player movement and more ball movement.”
Junior guard Raven Benton was the only 49er to score in double digits against the Rainbow Wahine. She had 23 points.
Wynn said the offense needs to be aggressive and have great communication to defeat Hawai’i.
“It’s going to be loud, they’re going to black it out and it’s probably going to be packed, so we have to communicate on both ends of the floor and limit our mistakes,” Wynn said.
As for Benton, she said that the defense has to play well.
“What our team needs to do is focus on boxing out [players] and stopping them, containing the ball,” Benton said. “So if we do what we do on defense then we have a great chance of winning.”
Benton has averaged 14 points per game during the current five game run and is averaging 12.8 points per game on the season.
Hawai’i’s senior guard Destiny King has been on fire during their four-game run and is averaging 12.25 points per game during the streak.
Wynn said that King is a player that likes to make an impact right away and likes to take over games down the stretch.
“We got to get in front of her and not allow her to get as many touches in the areas that she wants the ball,” Wynn said.
Hawai’i in its current four-game run has averaged 62 points per game, but has only allowed 52 points per game.
After Hawai’i, LBSU faces UCSB in their first meeting this season. The Gauchos have lost three out of their last four games, but Wynn said they are still a team to be wary of.
“They’re a much improved team,” Wynn said. “Their pressure defense is outstanding, so for us taking care of the ball, being able to contain the dribble without fouling is going to be the biggest part of the game.”
Wynn added that the Gauchos’ backcourt has contributed to creating stout defense.
“Their guards are playing with a lot of freedom offensively and they’re playing a dribble drive offense that plays to some of their strengths,” Wynn said.
Wynn pointed out that UCSB junior point guard Onome Jemerigbe is one of the fastest guards in the league. Jemerigbe is averaging 6.7 points per game and leads the team in assist, averaging 4.2 per game.
The 49ers face Hawai’i on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center; tip off is at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. On Saturday, LBSU takes on UC Santa Barbara inside the Walter Pyramid at 4 p.m.