Long Beach State rallies for victory over UC Irvine

IRVINE >> The Long Beach State women’s basketball team needed to try a different brand of defense against UC Irvine in the second half on Saturday afternoon.

That change in philosophy coincided with a change in attitude, allowing Long Beach to rally from a double-digit halftime deficit against the Anteaters and post a 52-50 win in a Big West Conference showdown at Bren Events Center.

With its eighth consecutive victory, Long Beach (15-7, 102) moved into first place in the conference standings, a half-game ahead of UCI (175, 9-2).

Tori Harris scored 15 points to lead Long Beach. Ma’qhi Berry, who did not play in a 60-57 loss to UCI on Jan. 7 because of an injury, scored a season-high 12 points while also contributing four steals.

“Berry being able to play makes a big difference,” Long Beach coach Jeff Cammon said. “To have her presence on the floor, her leadership, makes a difference.”

Long Beach took a 5150 lead with 21.4 seconds left when Harris missed a 3-pointer, but Kianna Hamilton-fisher grabbed the offensive rebound and scored.

The Anteaters tried to get the ball inside to Nevaeh Parkinson, who had given them a

LONG BEACH STATE 52, UC IRVINE 50

THE SCORE

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50-49 lead with 1:24 left, but Lauren Green blocked her shot with 10 seconds remaining.

Harris made one of two free throws with four seconds left, and Diaba Konate missed a layup off a drive in the final second.

“We’ve just got to regroup,” UCI coach Tamara Inoue said. “Can’t hang your heads, lots to learn. They’re a good team, they did a good job against us.”

Hunter Hernandez had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Irvine, but Long Beach limited her to four field-goal tries and four points in the second half.

The Anteaters scored the first basket of the second half to take their biggest lead of the game at 36-24.

Long Beach responded with a 10-0 run, however, and trailed by just four points entering the fourth quarter.

LBSU moved ahead 49-48 on two free throws by Harris with 5:51 left, and neither team scored again until Parkinson’s offensive rebound and putback 3½ minutes later.

Long Beach held UCI to 16 points in the second half and just one field goal over the final six minutes.