The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2022-23 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Following their semifinal loss in the Big West Tournament, Long Beach State women’s basketball has earned a postseason bid to the 2023 Women’s NIT. LBSU’s season will continue on Thursday night at 6 p.m., as the Beach visits the University of San Diego.
The Beach were the No. 2 seed in the Big West Tournament, falling last Friday to No. 3 seed and eventual champion Hawaii, 67-62.
“Obviously super disappointed in the outcome,” said Cammon after his team’s semifinal loss. “Nevertheless I’m very proud of our young ladies and the year we’ve had. It’s a very special group and they’ll be remembered for a lot of things they accomplished this year. Definitely our staff’s best team, and unfortunately tonight we just weren’t the better team. Hats off to Hawaii they made some plays and they came out on top.”
Kianna Hamilton-Fisher scored a team-high 17 points against Hawaii, earning a spot on the Big West All-Tournament Team. Ma’Qhi Berry added 13 and Courtney Murphy had 12 for the Beach.
The loaded senior class for Long Beach State will get at least one more game together as they make the program’s sixth WNIT appearance. LBSU took on Oregon State in last year’s WNIT, falling 70-59 in Corvallis. Historically, the 49ers have gone 2-5 in the WNIT, with both wins coming back in 2000. This will be the second meeting between Long Beach State and San Diego in the WNIT–the Beach suffered a 63-56 loss at Jenny Craig Pavilion back in 2015.
While it’s not the tournament LBSU wishes they were playing in, it does give the team an opportunity to make more school history. The Beach already went on a historic 15-game winning streak, but also have the chance to reach 25 wins for the first time since 1990 if they can win twice in the WNIT.
“It’s tough, this team should be in the (NCAA) Tournament,” said Cammon after the Hawaii loss. “But that’s part of it, man; that’s the beauty of sports. It’s tough, but it draws out the character in you. It helps you grow and makes you better, and this will make them better. It’s hard, and it’ll hurt for a while, but I think they’ll learn a lot about themselves and who they are.”
If the Beach are able to take down the Toreros on Thursday, they’ll await the winner of San Diego State and Big West rivals UC Irvine in round two, which will be played sometime between March 18-21.
