Long Beach State's women's basketball team fell 83-60 to California Baptist in their home opener, marking their third straight loss this season. The team started off slowly, trailing 18-2 in the first quarter and struggling to recover despite a brief comeback. Head coach Amy Wright emphasized the importance of growth, highlighting positive improvements despite the outcome. Key performances included sophomore Judit Oliva Fernandez's first double-double and JaQuoia Jones-Brown's career-high 19 points, but the team's shooting woes persisted, especially from three-point range.

By the Numbers
  • The Beach shot just 19% (4/21) from three-point range, while CBU shot 36.8% (14/38).
  • Long Beach State held a 51-42 rebounding advantage over California Baptist, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Yes, But

Despite the loss, Long Beach State showed significant rebounding prowess and moments of offensive improvement. Coach Wright pointed out that the team exhibited heart and fight on the court, making the performance more encouraging than the score suggests.

State of Play
  • Long Beach State is currently 0-3 in the season, struggling to find consistency in their performances.
  • California Baptist improves to 3-0, already showcasing strength against Big West opponents.
What's Next

The Beach will look to bounce back on Saturday against Sacramento State, another future Big West rival, as they continue to seek their first win of the season.

Bottom Line

Long Beach State's early season struggles highlight the challenges of building a young team, but focusing on growth and rebounding success may set the stage for improvement moving forward.