Long Beach State scored the first eight points of the contest but the Redhawks would power back to lead by one on back-to-back baskets by Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) and Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) by the first media timeout.
Kaylee Best’s (Seattle, Wash.) three-pointer at the 15:20 mark gave Seattle U as great as a four point lead, 12-8, but the lead would swing the other way as LBSU took a four-point lead, 16-12, on contributions by four different 49ers.
The Redhawks tied the game two different times just over and under the 10-minute mark of the first half, again regaining the lead, 20-18, at 9:19 on a layup by Jazmine Johnson (Lakewood, Calif.).
Just four minutes later, four straight made free throws by Raven Benton and a three by Alex Sanchez would give Long Beach State their first double digit lead, 36-25, with just under five minutes before half.
Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas) converted a three-point play with 2:51 before half to bring Seattle U within seven, but the 49ers would build back an 11-point lead at half, 44-33.
Back-to-back buckets by Ross brought SU back within seven, 51-44, just five minutes into the second half but Long Beach State would build back a double digit lead until seven minutes left in the contest.
Makenna Clark (Lake Tapps, Wash.) hit a three at 4:15 and knocked down a pair of free throws just 30 seconds later to bring the Redhawks within four two different times in the final minutes of the contest but Long Beach State would hold on for the 85-73 lead.
Afunugo led all players on the floor with 16 points while Ross, Montgomery, and Clark also scored in double digits. Montgomery recorded her first double-double of the regular season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
LBSU led from the field, shooting 42.9 percent (30-for-70) to the Redhawks’ 39.4 percent (28-for-71) as well as from the free-throw line, shooting 72.4 percent (21-for-29) to SU’s 59.1 percent (13-for-22).
The Redhawks return to Seattle for their regular season home opener on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Connolly Center. Those in attendance will have a chance to win tickets to both the men’s (Nov. 21) and women’s (Dec. 4) games against Washington at KeyArena this season.