LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State travels to UC Davis on Thursday for its final road game of the regular season. With one away game and one home contest remaining, the Beach carry momentum into the matchup after securing their first win streak of the season with back-to-back victories over Cal Poly (67-57) and CSU Bakersfield (72-62 OT).<\/p>\n
RIGHT AWAY
\n\u2022 Long Beach State enters the week at 5-23 overall and 4-14 in Big West play. The Beach are averaging 56.5 points per game while allowing 72.6, resulting in a -16.1 scoring margin. Emphasis remains on improving offensive efficiency (.364 FG, .284 3FG), closing the rebounding gap (-2.8 per game) and reducing turnovers (18.5 per game, 0.7 assist-to-turnover ratio).<\/p>\n
\u2022 JaQuoia Jones-Brown<\/a>, last week’s Big West Player of the Week, continues to anchor the offense. She ranks third in the Big West in scoring at 17.8 points per game and ninth in rebounding at 6.9 per game, while leading the conference in minutes at 37.3 per contest. She is shooting .420 from the field and .832 at the free throw line and has posted five double-doubles this season, tied for fifth-most in the league.<\/p>\n \u2022 Jones-Brown has recorded ten 20-point performances this season and remains the primary late-clock option in half-court sets. Her ability to draw contact and convert at the line is critical for a team averaging 10.6 made free throws per game.<\/p>\n \u2022 Khylee Pepe<\/a> provides complementary production at 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. She is coming off a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double against CSU Bakersfield and leads the team in steals, with 47. Her downhill attacking ability creates pressure on opposing defenses.<\/p>\n \u2022 Kennan Ka<\/a> averages 6.9 points and 2.6 assists per game while shooting .419 from the field. She ranks among the top 15 in the conference in assists and plays a key role in tempo management and ball-screen decision-making.<\/p>\n \u2022 Brynna Pukis<\/a> is shooting .339 from three-point range, giving the Beach perimeter spacing in drive-and-kick action. Rosie Akot<\/a> adds 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and ranks among the conference leaders with 20 blocks, providing interior rim protection.<\/p>\n \u2022 In the first meeting on Feb. 14 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, UC Davis earned a 77-66 win. Long Beach State led 35-31 at halftime before being outscored 24-9 in the third quarter.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Beach shot 39.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three in that game but committed 8 turnovers. Jones-Brown led LBSU with 21 points, while Ka added 16 points on 7-10 shooting.<\/p>\n \u2022 UC Davis shot 45.5 percent overall and 32.4 percent from three in the first matchup. Ryann Bennett scored 26 points, and Megan Norris recorded a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double.<\/p>\n \u2022 Norris leads the Big West in rebounding at 13.0 boards per game and has 18 double-doubles this season. Controlling the defensive glass and limiting second-chance opportunities will be a primary focus in the rematch.
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