Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team suffered a 68-61 defeat to UC Irvine in Big West Conference action Thursday evening at the Bren Events Center.

The 49ers fell to 7-11 overall and 3-3 in the Big West, while the Anteaters improved to 6-13, 3-4 BWC.

The Beach shot 41.5 percent from the field and was led by senior Karina Figueroa, who had a team-high 18 points and six rebounds. Classmate Ally Wade chipped in 11 points.

The two teams went back and forth in the early going with six lead changes and four tie scores. UCI eventually pulled ahead 27-18 after a 3-pointer by Keyonna Johnson at the 5:08 mark.

The 49ers then used a 9-0 spurt, capped by a Brett Timmons layup, to even the score at 27-27 with 1:39 remaining, but the Anteaters scored the final four points of the period to go up 31-27 at intermission.

Long Beach State shot 42.3 percent from the field and held a narrow 21-20 advantage on the boards in the first half.

UCI came out of the break on fire, scoring seven unanswered points to take a 38-27 advantage at the 18:00 mark. After a 49er timeout, junior Ashley Bookman ended a nearly four and a half minute scoring drought for The Beach with a jumper. The Anteaters stayed out front until LBSU went on a 13-0 run, capped by three free throws by senior Lauren Sims, to tie the game at 51-51 with 5:52 on the clock.

UC Irvine quickly regained the lead after a Long Beach State turnover and a 3-pointer by Jade Smith-Williams put the Anteaters up by five at the 3:30 mark. The Beach was able to pull back within three, but the home team sank eight free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 68-61 victory.

UCI shot 32.3 percent from the field and outrebounded the 49ers, 39-37. Smith-Williams led the Anteaters with a game-high 33 points, while Mikah Maly-Karros added a double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds).

Long Beach State returns to the Walter Pyramid on Saturday, Jan. 23, when it plays host to Cal State Bakersfield in its final non-conference game. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. (PST).