Report by LBSU
The Long Beach State women’s basketball team outscored Pacific, 17-7, in the second overtime to pull away with an 87-77 victory Saturday afternoon at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
The 49ers (12-14, 8-5 BWC) shot 37.5 percent from the field and outrebounded UOP, 59-46.
Senior Karina Figueroa, who scored 15 points over the two extra periods, finished with a game-high 24. Sophomore Tipesa Moorer added a double-double with a career-best 21 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Melanie Lisnock chipped in 14 points, while junior Ashley Bookman and senior Ally Wade both had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Figueroa sank a 3-pointer to put The Beach on top, 70-67, with 44 seconds remaining in the first extra period, but the Tigers responded as Jasmine Dana nailed a three to send the game into a second overtime. LBSU took control from there, outscoring UOP, 17-7, over the final five minutes.
Pacific opened the game by taking a 4-0 advantage before LBSU got on the board and grabbed its first lead at 5-4 following a Wade 3-pointer at the 17:55 mark. The two teams then traded baskets over the next three minutes until the Tigers used a 5-0 spurt to go up 14-9.
UOP (4-20, 2-10 BWC) stayed out front until Wade hit another three to cap an 11-4 run that gave the 49ers a 25-23 advantage with 6:41 to play. The Tigers came right back with seven unanswered points, but LBSU was able to outscore Pacific, 8-2, down the stretch to go on top 33-32 at the break.
The 49ers and Tigers were neck-in-neck to start the second half, but The Beach eventually went on an 11-2 run, capped by a pair of free throws from Lisnock, to take its largest lead of regulation at 52-43 with 8:03 remaining.
Pacific fought its way back and trailed by only four (61-57) following a jumper by Dana at the 1:56 mark. Figueroa put LBSU back up by six with a basket on the 49ers’ next possession, but UOP responded with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 63-62 with 46 seconds to play.
After a Tiger steal, Eliza Dy sank one of two free throws to even the score at 63-63 with 2.6 ticks on the clock. The 49ers were unable to get a shot off in the final seconds, sending the game into overtime.
Pacific had six players finish in double figures, led by Erica McKenzie’s 16 points. Jordan Rogers recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
LBSU and Pacific went into double overtime in the two teams’ last outing at the Alex G. Spanos Center on Feb. 7, 2009. The Tigers won that meeting, 98-92.
Long Beach State returns to the Walter Pyramid next week when it plays host to UC Davis (Feb. 25) and Pacific (Feb. 27) in Big West action.