NCAA Division I Women’s West Regional : Brown Has Off Night, but Long Beach Wins

Cindy Brown did not play like an All-American Saturday night, which gave Cal State Long Beach’s women’s basketball team the chance to show that it isn’t a one-woman team.

Brown, who averages 28 points a game, scored a season-low 10 points and had little impact in the 49ers’ 72-57 victory over Washington in an NCAA tournament second-round game before a crowd of 1,583 at the university gym.

Guard Penny Toler scored 28 points and forward Shannon Smith added 14 as Long Beach advanced to a meeting with Mississppi Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.

But the 49ers struggled, especially in the first half when Brown, playing only 11 minutes because of foul trouble, made only one of six shots and had one rebound.

“Cindy missed shots she usually makes and that hurt her mentally,” said Long Beach Coach Joan Bonvicini. “She was pressing herself so hard, and the fouls took her out of the game.”

Washington had cut the 49er lead to 31-26 with six seconds left in the first half, and had planned on taking that momentum into the dressing room.

But 49er guard Margaret Mohr made a running halfcourt shot--something she often practices--at the buzzer.

“Mentally and emotionally, that was a big boost,” Bonvicini said.

It was needed because the 49ers shot only 37% from the field in the first half when they also were plagued with too many turnovers and too few assists.

But the 49ers came out in the second half and quickly established the fast-paced rhythm that has been responsible for their 31-2 record.

They outscored the Huskies, 22-6, in the first 10 minutes. Most of that time, Brown was on the bench.

Toler took over, making ultra-quick drives and then pulling up for short jump shots.

“They had the best man defense we’ve faced,” Toler said.

It was an aggressive defense, and Toler welcomed it.

“It reminded me of home (Washington, D.C.) and the playground,” Toler said. “There, everybody plays tight man defense.”

And just like she used to do on the playground, Toler showed her defenders all the right moves. Even when she had a shot blocked, she retrieved the ball and scored.

“Somebody had to put it in there,” she said, noting Brown’s off-night.

Smith, a freshman from Seattle, muscled inside to make six of eight shots. She also had eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

The 49ers shot 56% in the second half and led by as many as 25 points. The Huskies, having to rely mostly on outside shots, hit only 36% in the second half.

Washington, which finished the season 23-7, was led by Yvette Cole’s 11 points.