USC Can’t Keep Up With 49ers

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team beat USC for the second consecutive season, riding an 18-2 second-half run to a 62-49 victory Wednesday night before 603 at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Long Beach (4-2) applied a tough perimeter defense on USC’s backcourt players and relied on 6-foot-8 senior Rhonda Smith to take away the Trojans’ inside game. Smith scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds.

USC (3-2) gained the advantage early in the second half, but the Trojans lost control after taking a 35-30 lead with 17:21 to play.

That’s when Long Beach began its 18-2 run that didn’t end until Erica Mashia’s three-point basket with 10:40 left. During the nearly seven-minute span, USC’s only points came on Tennille Grant’s two free throws.

USC led at the half, 29-28. Tiffany Elmore led the Trojans with 11 points.

Smith, although seemingly frail, showed WNBA skills, with Phoenix Mercury Coach Cheryl Miller in attendance. But even with her good leaping ability, Smith blocked only one shot Wednesday. Last season she finished second in blocks among Division I players.