LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive fourth-quarter defensive stand, the San Francisco Dons women’s basketball team secured a road victory, defeating the Long Beach State 49ers on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid.

The Dons improved their record to three wins and two losses on the young season, while the 49ers’ search for their first win continues as they fell to zero wins and five losses.

San Francisco established an early lead, outscoring Long Beach State seventeen to sixteen in a tightly contested first quarter. The Dons then created significant separation before halftime, exploding for twenty-four points in the second period while holding the 49ers to just fourteen, giving them a comfortable eleven-point advantage at the intermission.

However, the third quarter saw a momentum shift as the home team fought back. Long Beach State’s offense found its rhythm, pouring in nineteen points, while their defense clamped down to limit San Francisco to only thirteen, cutting the Dons’ lead to just five points heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was where the game was ultimately won, as San Francisco’s defense delivered a masterclass. The Dons held Long Beach State to a mere six points on stifling defense, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on turnovers. San Francisco’s offense, while not prolific in the period, did enough with fourteen points to steadily pull away and seal the victory.

The offensive engine for the Dons was Candy Edokpaigbe, who turned in a stellar performance. The guard from Naples, Italy, logged thirty-five minutes and poured in a game-high twenty-two points, consistently attacking the basket and drawing fouls. She also contributed two assists in the winning effort.

For Long Beach State, the backcourt duo of JaQuoia Jones-Brown and Brynna Pukis provided the majority of the offensive firepower. Jones-Brown, from Atlanta, Georgia, played thirty-seven minutes and led the 49ers with twenty points and four assists. Pukis, hailing from Seattle, Washington, also played thirty-five minutes and chipped in fourteen points and three assists.

San Francisco’s victory was built on efficiency in the paint and capitalizing on mistakes. The Dons dominated inside, scoring forty points in the paint compared to Long Beach State’s eighteen. They also exhibited a tenacious defense that forced eighteen 49er turnovers, converting those into nineteen points, while Long Beach State managed only eight points off thirteen San Francisco turnovers.

The Dons also controlled the glass, particularly on the offensive end, where they grabbed twelve rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities. Defensively, San Francisco was active, recording ten steals and three blocks, disrupting Long Beach State’s offensive flow throughout the game, especially in the game-clinching fourth quarter.

Other key contributors for San Francisco included Paula Tirado of Mataro, Spain, who provided a spark with eight points and two assists, and Mara Neira from Baiona, Spain, who added ten points. The Dons’ international flavor was further evident with Michelle Ugwah of Cork, Ireland, contributing six points and a block, and a host of other players from Spain, Slovakia, and Canada making impacts on the stat sheet.

For Long Beach State, Judit Oliva Fernandez from El Prat De Llobregat, Spain, was a presence inside, scoring nine points.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 511 at the Walter Pyramid. According to Interstat’s ELO system, San Francisco entered the contest with a 72.80 percent probability to win, a projection they fulfilled with their strong defensive finish.

The Dons will look to build on this victory when they return home to host Lehigh on Tuesday, November 25. Long Beach State, still in pursuit of its first win, faces a tough road test as they travel to face Oregon State on Sunday, November 23.