Long Beach State Runs Out Early In 73-47 Win Against UC Davis

Aggies trailed by double-digits early and 49ers control the rest of the way

	Kimberly Smith led UC Davis on Saturday with 13 points. (Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise)

Jan. 22, 2005

Box Score

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Aisha Hollans scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the first half on Saturday night, pacing four 49ers in double figures, as Long Beach State opened a double-digit lead in the first half and never looked back in a 73-47 nonconference women's basketball win played before 895 fans at The Pyramid.

UC Davis lost for the fourth consecutive time, falling to 5-12. Long Beach State, currently in first place in the Big West Conference, won its seventh straight game and is 11-4. Kimberly Smith hit three three-pointers and scored 13 points for the Aggies and was the lone UC Davis player in double figures.

The Aggies enjoyed a brief 3-2 lead against the 49ers on Saturday after Ellen Porshneva hit a three-pointer less than a minute into the game. However, tied at 5-5, Long Beach State embarked on a 17-2 run over the next seven minutes to take a 22-7 lead with 9 minutes, 34 seconds left in the half. Hollans had 12 points during that uprising, scoring on four jumpers and a pair of layups.

UC Davis responded with a 6-0 run of its own, fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Amy Glassman that made it 22-13, but Long Beach State opened the lead to 36-18 before settling for a 36-23 lead at halftime after the Aggies rallied late. The 49ers used good defensive pressure against the Aggies, forcing 14 UC Davis turnovers before halftime.

"They did a nice a job forcing us to start our offense farther from the basket, (better) than any other team we've faced this season," said Aggie coach Sandy Simpson. "We had trouble finding any flow in the game."

A pair of free throws by Smith cut the lead to just 36-25 early in the second half, but a 14-4 surge by Long Beach State opened the lead to 50-28 with 13:18 to play. Five different 49ers scored during the run, including four points each from Candice Wilson and Petra Glaser.

The lead grew to as much as 18 points before UC Davis was able to climb to within 62-44 after a three-pointer from Smith with just over five minutes to play. Long Beach State enjoyed its biggest lead at 73-44 with 1:54 to go.

"I thought there was a stretch (in the game) where we were able to do what we wanted but then Long Beach State stepped up the pressure," said Simpson.

Hollans - a transfer from USC - finished 9 of 15 from the floor for her 18 points, while center Petra Glaser finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, recording the double-double. Guard Crystal McCutcheon had 15 points for Long Beach State while Candice Wilson added 10.

Long Beach State held a 44-28 advantage on the boards and capitalized on 29 Aggie turnovers. Glassman hit a trio of three-pointers and finished with nine points off the bench while Porshneva also had nine points. Post Lara Gray led UC Davis with a team-high eight rebounds.

UC Davis returns to action on Wednesday when the Aggies host Sacramento State at The Pavilion at 7 p.m. The Aggies beat the Hornets 58-50 at Sacramento State on Nov. 30.