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Jessica Perry scored 17 points Wednesday at Weber State.
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Nov. 30, 2006
Game #7 - Utah (2-4) vs. Long Beach State (0-5)
7 p.m. MST - Friday, December 1 - Jon M. Huntsman Center
Salt Lake City
Radio: Sports Radio 700 The Zone
TV: None
Audio Stream: www.UtahUtes.com
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Utah Women Finally Return Home
The University of Utah women's basketball team returns home for just the second time this season on Friday. The Utes played five of their six games during the month of November away from the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
The Utes went 2-4 in the first month of the season. Utah will now play five of its seven December games in the Huntsman Center.
Friday's opponent is Long Beach State, which is known as either the 49ers or simply as The Beach. LBSU is 0-5 on the season. The 49ers have dropped decisions to USC, Santa Clara, Montana State, Oregon and Loyola Marymount.
The Utes are coming off their best performance of the season. Utah trounced Weber State 77-43 in Ogden on Wednesday night. It was easily the best offensive output for the Utes so far this season.
Utah Fast Breaks
• Utah pushed its scoring average from 53.0 points per game to 57.0 with its 77-point effort against Weber State Wednesday.
• Prior to Wednesday, Utah had not scored more than 55 points in regulation play this season.
• The Utes are averaging 12.8 offensive rebounds per game through their first six contests.
• Friday's game with Long Beach State marks the beginning of a three-game homestand.
• Five of Utah's six November games were away from the Huntsman Center.
• Utah's first six opponents this season currently have a combined record of 27-9.
• Long Beach State is the first Utah opponent this season to have a sub-.500 record.
The Matchup
Friday night's contest will be the fourth time Utah and Long Beach State have met on the women's basketball hardwood.
Long Beach State holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Beach won the first two meetings -- in 1977 and 1981. Both of the first two matchups were in Long Beach. The most recent contest was a 1984 contest in Salt Lake City. Utah took that one 72-70.
Long Beach State is led by Karina Figueroa, who averages 11.6 points per game. Kaiti O'Brien comes off the bench for the 49ers, but leads them in rebounding (5.8 rpg).
Long Beach State is coached by Mary Hegarty, who is in her 4th season at the helm of the 49er program.
Utah Stock Rising
After its big win over Weber State Wednesday, Utah saw many of its key statistics take a quick, upward trend. Utah's scoring average increased from 53 to 57 points per game. The Utes' field-goal percentage rose from .366 to .387. Utah's three-point percentage (.268/.293) and free-throw percentage (.631/.671) also improved. The Utes' rebounding margin went from +3.6 to +6.0, while their average rebounds moved from 38.6 to 39.8.
-UU-
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