SAN DIEGO – Behind a sensational performance from Kasey Neubert, the San Diego women's basketball program (18-13, 11-7 WCC) pulled away late to advance past Long Beach State (23-10, 17-3 Big West), 75-57, and move on to the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) on Thursday night at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  
 
Neubert finished with 18 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Her 19 rebounds match Amber Sprague for the fourth-highest single game output in Toreros history.
 
Ayanna Khalfani also shined, recording her second double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Kiera Oakry added 15 points of her own in the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• While Long Beach State took a 7-6 lead to open the game, the Toreros immediately took control with a 12-2 run.
• After one of three early three pointers from Oakry, Neubert was the catalyst of the run with six points.
• However, the Beach would not go away, clawing their way back into the lead at 25-23 halfway through the second quarter.
• Four points in the final two minutes helped the Toreros take a 31-29 lead into the locker room for halftime.
• Both sides struggled from the field in the third quarter, but the Toreros had an answer for whatever Long Beach threw at them.
• After the Toreros took a nine-point lead, the Beach cut the lead to three with 2:26 in the quarter.
• However, Khalfani immediately stole the ball and scored to change the momentum in the Toreros favor, sparking a 10-2 run.
• The Toreros could not miss in the fourth quarter, riding scorching shooting to pull away from the Beach.
• San Diego went 10-for-11 from the field and outscored the Beach 26-17 in the fourth quarter.
• Khalfani added seven points in the fourth quarter, while Myah Pace hit a key three pointer, plus a foul, to help put the game out of reach for Long Beach.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Neubert's 19 rebounds are the most by any Torero in a single game since Sophia Ederaine's 23 against Pacific on Jan. 17, 2015.
• The Toreros improve to 12-7 all-time in the WNIT and won their eighth consecutive game against the Beach.
• The Toreros are now 7-1 all-time in WNIT first round games.
• San Diego finished with 50 rebounds in the game, reaching the threshold against a Division I opponent for the first time since Dec. 21, 2018 against San Jose State.
• Khalfani and Neubert both a double-double in the same game for the second time this season. The duo also did it against San Francisco on Feb. 16.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros will await the winner of the San Diego State and UC Irvine matchup on Friday to lock in their WNIT second round matchup.