Women’s Basketball: Unbeaten LBCC surges to top spot in State, SoCal polls
After opening the season with a 5-0 record, the Long Beach City College women’s basketball team has been rewarded with the No. 1 spots in both the California Community College Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (CCCBWCA) State and Southern California polls.
CCCWBCA Rankings
After opening the season with a 5-0 record, the Long Beach City College women's basketball team has been rewarded with the No. 1 spots in both the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association (CCCBWCA) State and Southern California polls.
The Vikings are just one of six undefeated teams remaining in the state. Long Beach opened the year ranked sixth in the state and fifth in the SoCal preseason coaches poll. But losses by four of the state's top five, including defending state champion and South Coast Conference rival Mt. San Antonio College, helped push the Vikings to the top spot.
"Our goal is to be the top team in March," said fourth-year LBCC head coach Michael Anderson. "But this is a great accomplishment for the team and the program."
Long Beach opened the season with a pair of non-conference wins at No. 14 state-ranked Chaffey College (74-65) and Santa Ana College (78-53) before going 3-0 to capture the Pasadena City College Rose City Classic tournament. The Vikings picked up wins over Citrus College (65-52), No. 18 Irvine Valley College (63-60), and beat El Camino College 71-61 in the tournament championship final.
After more than two weeks off, Long Beach returns to action on December 5 when the Vikings will compete at the three-day Irvine Valley College tournament. LBCC will take on Imperial Valley College at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Last season, Long Beach was ranked as high as No. 5 in the state rankings and was No. 8 in the final regular-season poll. LBCC closed the season with a 24-5 record and advanced to the third round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The 24 wins tied a school record.