LBSU sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown faces off against Fullerton sophomore guard Jana Falsdottir on Jan. 22. The Beach would go on to lose 84-66 to the Titans, following several turnoves. Charlotte LoCicero | Long Beach Current
The season’s struggles continue for Long Beach State women’s basketball, as 35 turnovers helped Cal State Fullerton build control in an 84-66 cross-town rivalry defeat on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
Taking on the no.1 offense in the Big West, The Beach (2-16) flipped the script on the Titans (10-9) as LBSU, which ranks worst offensively in the Big West, shot a perfect 6-6 in the first five minutes, leading the Titans, 14-10.
A steal and lay from CSUF sophomore forward and Long Beach native Cristina Jones, who sits fifth in the nation with 68 steals, began a 5-0 run from the Titans after a corner three from CSUF graduate student guard Kya Pearson gave her team a 15-14 lead.
Finishing the quarter on a 10-2 run, LBSU shot an efficient 71% as they led, 24-17, to end the first, withholding a 10-point quarter from Pearson on an effective 80%. The Titans had nine points off nine turnovers from The Beach, not capitalizing fully on their opportunities.
The Titans’ full-court pressure did not create diamonds for The Beach, as LBSU went scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half, allowing Fullerton to go on a 12-0 run and take a 29-24 lead.
“They switched their press a little bit, he’s [CSUF head coach John Bonner] got about four presses that he runs, so we were trying to make adjustments, I had to go to my bench because of some foul trouble…I think that kind of led to some quick turnovers,” LBSU head coach Amy Wright said.
With four minutes left in the second, LBSU freshman forward Rosie Akot scored the first points of the quarter for The Beach with a corner three, as LBSU trailed just two after finding no offensive success.
LBSU sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown shoots a layup during a rivalry matchup against the Fullerton Titans on Jan. 22 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. Charlotte LoCicero | Long Beach Current
The Beach lost control as they went three-straight possessions with a turnover, allowing the Titans to finish the quarter on an 8-0 run, and going into the half with a 48-38 lead.
The Beach struggled to adjust to the Titans’ full-court press, as they forced 12 turnovers in the second quarter, resulting in 14 points off turnovers.
CSUF found LBSU’s weakness and kept attacking the wound, as turnovers became nonstop for The Beach.
“We have to get better individually, we have to get better with pressure, we have to want the ball, we have to be more fundamental, and you know that’s on me, and I have to teach these kids how to be more fundamentally sound,” Wright said.
LBSU had a total of eight turnovers in a span of four minutes before The Beach finished the quarter with 11 turnovers, as the Titans had 41 points off turnovers, leading 73-56 into the fourth.
The deficit was too much for The Beach to come back from as Akot led LBSU in scoring with 16 points and one rebound short of a double-double in the 84-66 rivalry defeat.
“At the end of the day, you’re not going to beat anybody with 35 turnovers…you cut those in half, it’s a three-point game,” Wright said.
Wright believes there is still time for the team to turn the season around as LBSU falls to 2-16 and sits 10th out of 11 in the Big West.
The Beach will travel the road to take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Junior Contreras is a senior at California State University, Long Beach, majoring in journalism with a minor in communications. Beginning as a video assistant, Junior is a sports assistant of the Long Beach Current this year. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in sports journalism.