The Long Beach State women’s basketball team completed its weekend sweep of UC Santa Barbara with a comfortable 70-55 win on Saturday afternoon that improves the Beach to 11-1, and a perfect 10-0 in Big West play. It’s the team’s best start in 15 years and sets up a championship-level showdown with UC Davis next Friday and Saturday in the Walter Pyramid.
The Beach and Davis are the only two undefeated teams in the Big West and a pair of wins would give the Beach a very good shot at their first un-shared regular season conference title in more than 30 years.
“I’m very excited, it’s always fun to compete and especially against the best,” said LBSU coach Jeff Cammon.
The Beach had an easy time with the Gauchos this weekend, and Saturday’s defense matched Friday’s high level, but with offensive production to keep the margin comfortable. It was impressive execution given that the team has been without Naomi Hunt for the last three games.
“It’s next person up,” said Cammon. “People sleep on us. We’ve got some good players, I think you’re starting to see it.”
Justina King had a standout game against UCSB on Saturday with 17 points and a career-high nine assists.
However, junior Jasmine Hardy was the star of the weekend with a pair of double-doubles that earned her the Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award. The Santa Clarita native scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on Friday night, and came back with 15 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday.
