LBSU junior forward Kennan Ka sizes up a defender in The Beach’s 68-55 loss to the University of San Francisco at the Gold Mine on Thursday, Nov. 20. Charlotte LoCicero | Long Beach Current

Long Beach State women’s basketball shot 11% in the fourth quarter, falling short of a comeback in a 68-55 loss against the University of San Francisco, as The Beach fell to 0-5, their worst start to the season since 2018-19, at the Gold Mine on Thursday, Nov. 20.

An offensive duel broke out early between LBSU freshman guard Brynna Pukis and Dons sophomore guard Candy Edokpaigbe, as they combined for 15 points in the first quarter.

LBSU opened up the game with its first seven points all courtesy of Pukis, as she knocked down a three to break her career-high in points in the first as The Beach trailed 8-7.

“That’s what she’s supposed to be doing. She’s just had a rough start, she’s had a typical freshman start,” LBSU head coach Amy Wright said. “But we need her to hit those threes.”

Edokpaigbe’s eight first quarter points on an efficient 75% from the field had the Dons (3-2) up six before four-straight points from LBSU sophomore forward Judit Oliva Fernandez brought The Beach just behind at 17-16 at the end of the first.

After scoring a career-high of 29 in her previous game, sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown finished with just one point in the first, but changed the tide quickly with nine straight points early in the second. 

Costly giveaways by LBSU contributed to 12 points off turnovers in the second quarter, as a layup from USF freshman forward Nataša Taušová gave the Dons a 14 point lead before a Jones-Brown quarter-ending three sent The Beach into the break down 41-30.

The Beach came out the break connecting on all cylinders, as they went on a 11-2 run to claw back within two. 

LBSU sophomore guard Judit Oliva Fernanadez attempts a layup over a defender in The Beach’s fifth straight loss to open the season at the Gold Mine on Thursday, Nov. 20. Charlotte LoCicero | Long Beach Current

The offensive duel between Edokpaigbe and Pukis continued throughout the third quarter as they combined for 13 points, as double digit points from Taušová contributed to the Dons six-point lead entering the fourth.

After outscoring USF in the third, LBSU’s offense disappeared completely, shooting 11% from the field, scoring just six points in the quarter.

Wright saw fatigue in her team that led to the lack of offensive success in the fourth. 

“Fatigue set in…we ran one play, I think it took us 26 seconds to run and it’s literally a 12 second play because we’re tired,” Wright said.

Points in the paint was the path to a 68-55 victory for the Dons, as they outscored The Beach 40-18 inside the paint, allowing Edokpaigbe to finish with 22 points to lead all scorers ahead of 20 points from Jones-Brown. 

The Beach dropped to 0-5 as they travel up to Oregon to take on the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday, Nov. 23.