Women’s Basketball : No. 3 Auburn Takes On USC Tonight in Long Beach Tournament

Cal State Long Beach and USC, women’s basketball teams that have encountered different fortunes early this season, have a slight chance of meeting in the Dial Soap tournament beginning tonight at Long Beach.

Both teams have to win tonight to meet in Saturday’s championship game, and USC will clearly have the more difficult path. The Trojans play No. 3-ranked Auburn at 6 p.m., then the No. 7 49ers play Toledo at 8 p.m. Both games are in Long Beach’s University Gym.

Toledo (2-1) has Dee Hayes, its leading scorer and rebounder from its 12-14 season. Hayes, a 6-foot junior forward, averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds last season.

“We are, hopefully, a quicker team than they are and we are much taller,” Long Beach Coach Joan Bonvicini said.

The 49ers (2-1) will likely play an up-tempo game, trying to eliminate some of the mistakes that that style engenders. Long Beach is averaging 21 turnovers a game, as opposed to 14 last season.

“I’m trying to get our intensity level up,” Bonvicini said. “We need to concentrate for 40 minutes every game. We play real hard for 25 to 30 minutes each game, but then there’s a lull.”

Penny Toler has been a bright spot for the 49ers. The junior guard is averaging 32 points and is shooting 60% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line.

“The biggest difference from last year with Penny is she’s handling her defensive work much better,” Bonvicini said.

Auburn’s record of 31-2 was the best in the nation last season. The high-scoring Tigers (4-0) are led by All-American center Vickie Orr. A junior, Orr is averaging 17.5 points a game, and three other Tigers are averaging in double figures. Auburn is averaging 96 points a game, much of that scoring created by its defense.

“They get a lot out of their defense,” USC Coach Linda Sharp said. “They have great talent and great depth. We are going to have to create a tempo. We can’t get into a running game with Auburn. I’ll tell you right now--we can’t run with them. They are quick.”

That used to be a USC trait, but the Trojans (1-2) are struggling to find the balance they need to keep up with their demanding early season schedule.

Guard Paula Pyers is leading the team with 17.3 points a game and has made 8 of 16 three-point shots. Cherie Nelson is averaging 16 points a game.

“We’ve got to have overall balance on this team,” Sharp said. “We can’t just be satisfied with Cherie’s 20 points.

The championship game is set for 8 p.m. Saturday in the University Gym.

UCLA’s women will play top-ranked Tennessee Sunday in Pauley Pavilion at 6 p.m. Auburn will stay around long enough to play at UCLA Tuesday, this time in the Wooden Center at 7 p.m.