49er Women Only a Win Away From Final Four : They Have Been This Close Three Times and Have Always Come Up Empty

Having reached the NCAA West Regional final for the fourth time in five seasons, the Cal State Long Beach women’s basketball team finds itself on the brink of the Final Four once again.

The 49ers have tripped at this point in three previous attempts.

This time, though, they may be more secure in the knowledge that they have probably never had a better chance to take that extra step that would send them on their way.

Nobody knows for sure because Coach Joan Bonvicini isn’t saying.

“If you think back, it just gets you all upset,” she said. “I’m just worried about now.”

The fourth-ranked 49ers (32-2) can exorcise some demons when they meet 10th-ranked Ohio State (26-4) tonight at 7 at Pauley Pavilion. The winner will advance to the Final Four next weekend at Austin, Tex.

History is not on the 49ers’ side.

A quick look back:

--In 1983, the 49ers fell victim to USC’s Murderesses’ Row--Cheryl Miller and the McGee twins, Pam and Paula--who combined for 62 points and 39 rebounds in an 81-74 victory at Pauley Pavilion.

--In 1984, it was worse. USC made 11 of its first 13 shots, went ahead by 28 points in the first half and romped, 90-74, at the Sports Arena. “I was embarrassed, and I’m sure my players were, too,” Bonvicini said afterward.

--In 1985, the fourth-ranked 49ers made only 46.5% of their shots and were upset by eighth-ranked Georgia, which won easily at Pauley Pavilion, 97-82.

Said Bonvicini: “We’ll make the Final Four one of these years.”

This may be it.

The 49ers lead the nation in scoring with a 96.5 average and in the regional semifinals Thursday night, they ran over Mississippi, 94-55.

“Their break reminds me of that four-lane traffic here in Los Angeles, just constantly coming at you in all four lanes,” Mississippi Coach Van Chancellor said. “I’ve been in coaching 23 years and I’ve never had a genuine, A-No. 1 butt whippin’ like that--ever.”

Ohio State Coach Nancy Darsch said the only team the Buckeyes have seen that can compare to Long Beach is No. 1-ranked Texas, which pounded the Buckeyes twice in December, 99-78 at Texas and 97-63 in a tournament in Miami.

“They’re very impressive and very quick,” she said of the 49ers.

Ohio State, a 74-63 winner Thursday night over USC, is a more methodical team.

The Big Ten co-champions, who have won 21 of their last 22 games, rank third in the nation in field goal accuracy at 52.9%, and there’s good reason for that. They’re patient and rarely take poor shots.

Darsch said her team, which averages almost 20 points a game less than Long Beach, also is comfortable with a faster pace.

Still, she said, “We have to disrupt their tempo and perhaps get them out of the favorite parts of their game early and try to get them to play a half-court game.”

Said Bonvicini, pointing out that Long Beach is not one-dimensional, either: “We can bang, believe me.”

But . . .

“Our game is up-tempo pressure, and we want them in our game.”

Regional Notes The game will be televised live at 7 p.m. on ESPN. . . . Mississippi Coach Van Chancellor said Joan Bonvicini should have let up in the 49ers’ 94-55 rout Thursday night. Said Chancellor: “You’re ahead by 35 to 40 points and you’ve got your starters out there pressing with three minutes to go? I didn’t appreciate it a lot.” Said Bonvicini: “I’m not going to worry about it.” . . . The Ohio State players are wearing black arm bands in memory of former Ohio State football Coach Woody Hayes, who died last week.