LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive individual performances and a frantic final minute, JaQuoia Jones-Brown scored 29 points and hit the decisive three-pointer with 76 seconds remaining to lift Long Beach State to a 75-72 victory over UC Riverside in a Big West Conference women’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at Walter Pyramid.

The win, secured before an announced crowd of 654, snapped a three-game losing streak for the 49ers and avenged a 77-59 loss to the Highlanders just two weeks prior. It was a rare bright spot in a difficult season for Long Beach State, which improved to 3-17 overall. UC Riverside, which got a career-high 28 points from Hannah Wickstrom, fell to 6-14.

The contest was a dramatic departure from the teams’ first meeting, evolving into a tense, back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than eight points. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final two minutes, with Long Beach State clinging to a two-point lead.

After UC Riverside’s Kaylani Polk missed a three-pointer that would have given the Highlanders the lead, Long Beach State’s Khylee Pepe secured a critical defensive rebound. Following a timeout, the 49ers worked the ball to Jones-Brown, who calmly sank a step-back three-pointer from the top of the key to extend the lead to 73-68 with 1:16 on the clock.

UC Riverside refused to fold. Wickstrom, who played all 40 minutes, drew a foul on a drive and made two free throws to cut the deficit to 73-70. On the ensuing possession, Long Beach State’s Rosie Akot turned the ball over, giving the Highlanders life with 44 seconds left. But Polk’s potential game-tying three-point attempt was blocked by Akot with two seconds remaining.

Brynna Pukis was fouled and made both free throws for Long Beach State to seal the outcome at 75-70 before a meaningless Highlander layup at the buzzer provided the final margin.

The game was a showcase for two standout guards. Jones-Brown, a 5-foot-6 junior from Atlanta, Georgia, was relentless, adding four assists and three steals to her game-high point total. She scored 10 of Long Beach State’s 20 points in the fourth quarter, including the clutch three and four crucial free throws in the final period.

She was matched nearly shot-for-shot by Wickstrom, a 5-foot-10 guard from Melbourne, Australia. Wickstrom also played the entire game, contributing five assists and four steals. She went 12-for-14 from the free-throw line and sparked UC Riverside’s early offense.

The Highlanders raced to a 25-17 lead after the first quarter, fueled by Wickstrom’s 11 points. But the 49ers responded with a 23-point second quarter, led by Pepe and Akot, to take a 40-36 halftime advantage. Long Beach State’s bench provided a significant lift, outscoring UC Riverside’s reserves 29-11, with key contributions from Pepe (13 points), Akot (15 points) and Pukis (11 points).

Efficiency told the story of the narrow win. While both teams had 72 possessions, Long Beach State was slightly more effective, shooting 48.1% from the field (25 of 52) and 47.6% from three-point range (10 of 21). UC Riverside shot 43.4% overall (23 of 53) and 44.4% from deep (8 of 18). The 49ers also capitalized more on mistakes, scoring 26 points off 14 Highlander turnovers.

The loss extended a frustrating stretch for UC Riverside, which has now dropped four of its last five games. Long Beach State, meanwhile, will look to build on the momentum as both teams continue their conference schedules on Saturday. UC Riverside travels to face Cal Poly, while Long Beach State heads to Hawaii.