Dec. 13, 2009
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Junior guard Sam Child had 17 points and sophomore forward Morgan Woodrow contributed with 13, as the University of San Diego women's basketball team outlasted the Long Beach State University 49ers 67-60 Sunday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Toreros (6-6) shot 40.6% (26-of-64) from the field and out rebounded LBSU 36-28, including pulling down 19 offensive boards. In addition to Child and Woodrow, senior forward Morgan Henderson reached double digit scoring with 10 points, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and five boards.
"I thought the team played with a lot of heart today, especially in the second half," said head coach Cindy Fisher. "I challenged the team at halftime to have more heart and out rebound Long Beach, and that is exactly what our team did today, all heart."
San Diego opened the first half with an offensive spark propelled by Child who drained a three from the right side of the court off a dish from Henderson, giving the Toreros the initial edge of 3-0 with 19:20 to go. The Toreros and 49ers would trade basket-for-basket over the next six minutes to bring the score to a 10-all tie. San Diego would then go on a 7-0 run sparked by a Sam Child jumper just inside the arc to take the advantage 17-10 with 10:52 left in the half.
The 49ers would get right back in it however, putting together a run of their own and bringing the score back to even at 19 each with 8:16 left to go. Just 45 seconds later, Long Beach would take a two point lead on a Karina Figueroa mid-range jumper. The Toreros would quickly even the score at 21-21 as Sam Child drained a short attempt with 6:25 left. The 49ers were relentless and would come right back, as Figeroa would continue her impressive shooting performance by draining a three and putting LBSU up by three with 6:10 to go. Long Beach would never relinquish the lead before the end of the half, taking a 35-33 advantage in to the break.
The second half began in identical fashion as the first as Child drained her second three from the left wing to put the Toreros up 36-35 in the opening 30 seconds. With 15:21 left and the score standing at 41-40 in favor of the 49ers, San Diego would go on a 12-0 run ignited by a Danesia Williamson shot that kissed off the glass and fell for two, and the run was capped on a Nya Mason lay-up, giving he Toreros 52-41 advantage with 11:29 to go.
This would provide the offensive burst that the Toreros had been searching for. LBSU would get as close as five on a free throw attempt by Ally Wade moving the score to 65-60 with just under a minute to go. But San Diego would steady itself on the back of clutch free-throw shooting by Woodrow that would put the Toreros up by seven. Sophomore guard Dominique Conners would seal the victory for the Toreros on a quick steal at the other end, as San Diego would hold on to win by a final of 67-60.
For the 49ers (3-6), Karina Figueroa had a team high 25 points (7-of-18), including going a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.
The Toreros will be off for two weeks before returning to action on Dec. 28 to begin defense of the Maggie Dixon Surf N Slam title against Nevada in a 6 p.m. contest at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
