The Long Beach State women’s basketball team (3-10, 0-2 BWC) is looking to bounce back from a pair of Big West Conference road losses as it plays host to Pacific (7-6, 1-0 BWC) on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. (PST). The 49ers will then return to the Walter Pyramid two days later when they entertain UC Davis (5-7, 1-0 BWC) at 5 p.m. (PST). At 3-10 and still looking for an identity, since it appears Karina Figueroa will in fact be sidelined for the rest of the season, the 49ers desperately need to pick a win in the Big West. 

The 49ers lead in their series with Pacific by a 35-16 count and own a two-game winning streak after sweeping the Tigers last season. The Beach is 21-4 when playing UOP at home.

Long Beach State also leads in its all-time series with UC Davis by an 8-4 count, but have come up short in the last three meetings between the two teams. The Aggies pulled out a narrow 51-48 victory in the most recent outing at the Walter Pyramid on Feb. 7, 2008.

Pacific had a four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, Jan. 4, falling at Saint Mary’s, 71-70. On the season, senior Amber Simmons leads the Tigers with 20.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Classmate Janae Young has also been a key factor for UOP as she is second on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg). Pacific is searching for its first road win of the season (0-4 away record).

UC Davis, which was picked to finish third in the Big West Conference preseason coaches’ poll, is coming off an 86-66 win over Cal State Northridge (Jan. 4). On the season, sophomore Paige Mintun has paced the Aggies with a team-best 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Sandy Simpson is in his 11th year at the helm of the UC Davis women’s basketball program and recently picked up his 200th career victory.

From LBSU reports