Long Beach State opened with strong energy, knocking down early shots and dictating the tempo. The Beach led for eight of the ten minutes in the first quarter and used a three from JaQuoia Jones-Brown to create separation, finishing the frame in the lead 15-10 with nine rebounds as a team.
LBSU continued to generate offense through defensive pressure in the second quarter, turning Sacramento State turnovers into scoring opportunities and adding eight points off Hornet miscues in the first half while maintaining steady control.
Sacramento State mounted a surge in the third with a 10–0 run that cut the Beach lead down. A five-minute scoring drought allowed the Hornets to pull within one before taking their first lead on a layup. Kennan Ka tied the game at the free-throw line with three minutes left, and jumpers from Jones-Brown and Khylee Pepe briefly pushed Long Beach State back in front. Two free throws on a Pepe foul allowed Sacramento State to answer, and a Jones-Brown layup extended the Beach lead once more before a late Hornet three cut the margin to one entering the fourth.
Sacramento State opened the final quarter with a layup to move ahead again. Jones-Brown responded in transition, finishing through contact to help the Beach reclaim the lead, and later added a jumper to extend the margin. The Hornets answered with another jumper to take a one-point advantage, and both teams traded stops the rest of the way before Sacramento State held on in the final minute.
Jones-Brown delivered a standout performance, surpassing her previous career high of 19 points with a game-best 29. Pepe added nine points and ten rebounds, while Judit Oliva Fernandez anchored the offense with four assists.
Long Beach State finished with 24 points in the paint and 19 points off 17 Sacramento State turnovers, adding seven second-chance points and shooting 11-for-20 on layups. The Beach led for 33 minutes and ten seconds and closed the day with .794 points per possession on a 38.2 percent scoring rate. Defensively, the Beach set the tone by holding the Hornets to 57 points, more than 20 below their season average of 78.
