WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Long Beach Wins, 88-71; Trojans Lose to Rutgers

Trise Jackson, Angelique Lee and Penny Moore each reached season highs in scoring Thursday night to lead sixth-ranked Cal State Long Beach to an 88-71 victory over No. 24 St. Joseph’s in the opening round of the Maryland Invitational.

Long Beach will meet 14th-ranked Maryland in the championship game tonight.

Jackson had 24 points, Lee 19 and Moore 18 for the 49ers, who improved to 7-1. Center Kari Parriott added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Long Beach, which led, 41-38, at halftime and did not trail in the second half.

St. Joseph’s (3-3) led by as many as five points in the first half. The Hawks were paced by Dale Hodges, who had 19 first half points and finished with 29 points and 18 rebounds.

Rutgers 76, USC 51--Vicky Picott had 20 points in leading the Lady Knights to an easy first-round victory in the Atlantic women’s tournament in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers jumped to a 15-0 lead and held USC scoreless for nearly seven minutes. The Lady Knights blocked 10 shots in the first half and held USC to its lowest point total of the year.

Freshman Joni Easterly led USC with 19 points.

The Trojans (2-3) will play Auburn in the consolation game today. Rugters plays Virginia in the championship game.