WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : CS Long Beach Runs By New Mexico St.

The lasting vision of the Cal State Long Beach-New Mexico State semifinal game was more like blurred vision.

Gradually, the 49ers wore down and wore out the Roadrunners, defeating New Mexico State, 87-68, Thursday night in the Big West Conference tournament at Long Beach Arena.

For the 49ers, the victory avenged a 17-point loss at New Mexico State in late February. Long Beach (21-8) will meet UC Santa Barbara in Saturday’s title game.

Thursday night, senior guard Trise Jackson, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, was the architect of the up-tempo offense.

The Roadrunners trailed by four points at halftime, but Long Beach had too much speed and too much depth for the weary Roadrunners, who needed a basket at the buzzer to upset Nevada Las Vegas in Wednesday night’s quarterfinals.

Additionally, the Roadrunners (16-15) were overmatched in rebounding, where Long Beach had the decided edge, 65-36. The 49ers had balanced scoring, with reserve forward Kellie Bennett adding 18 points, Bolivia Gaytan 16 and Danielle Scott and Kari Parriott 15 each.

For New Mexico State, senior guard Andrea Kabwasa had a game-high 19 points and Tracey Goetsch had 18.

UC Santa Barbara 80, Hawaii 75--Trailing No. 21-ranked Hawaii by five at halftime, Gaucho Mark French let his team do the coaching.

“One of the adjustments we made at halftime was from the coaching staff,” French said. “I said, ‘We’re going to shut up.’ ”

His players had been getting confused with the constant defensive switches.

“I was glad we stayed with one defense,” senior forward Erika Kienast said. “I was much happier.” Kienast showed her gratitude with a game-high 26 points and 15 rebounds.

During one second-half stretch, she scored 14 of the Gauchos’ 16 points. Also, center Becky Brown had 16 points and guard Lisa Crosskey added 10.

Santa Barbara (25-4) needed Kienast to come through because forward Barbara Beainy, the Big West player of the year, made three of 13 shots and fouled out with 3:53 remaining. But Hawaii Coach Vince Goo said that Kienast and the Gauchos’ rebounding edge (51-33) was the difference.

The Wahines (23-6) were led by Alicia Pontious’ 18 points. Tricia Stringam had 13.

PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE

USC 81, Oregon 76--Lisa Leslie scored 29 points and helped the Trojans hang on for the victory at Eugene, Ore. USC (20-7, 13-4) earned its first 20-win season since 1988.

Staci Wallenborn scored 22 points for Oregon (14-13, 6-11).

UCLA 71, Oregon State 70--Oregon State’s Judy Shannon missed a 10-foot shot in the final seconds to preserve the Bruins’ Pac-10 victory at Corvallis, Ore.

Natalie Williams scored 26 points and Detra Lockhart had 14 for UCLA (18-9, 11-6). Oregon State (8-19, 3-14) trailed, 57-46, with 11:22 left.