Garnering Most Valuable Player accolades of the Beach Classic, Long Beach State junior Raven Benton (Tacoma, Wash./Federal Way HS) added to her personal honor roll as the Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Benton received the recognition after leading the Beach to two impressive wins.
The 5-10 guard averaged 22.0 points and 6.5 rebounds as LBSU downed previously unbeaten UTEP (47-40) and UNLV (67-63). She shot 53.6 (15-of-28) percent from the field, including 44.4 percent (4-of-9) on three-pointers, and also was efficient at the foul line going 10-for-12 (83.3%).
Benton poured in a career-high 31 points on just 14 shot attempts in the four-point victory over the Lady Rebels. She went 10-for-14 from the field, 2-for-3 from behind the arc, and 9-of-10 from the free throw line as LBSU emerged from the Beach Classic 9-3 and leaders of the Big West in both overall wins and winning percentage (.750).
Benton became the first LBSU player to register a 30-point game since 2010. She added eight rebounds against UNLV, nearly missing a double-double. Her nine free throws made pushed her career total to 261, which ranks 10th in school history.
Two days earlier, her 13 points against UTEP led the team and tied for game-high honors. She tacked on five rebounds, four assists and three steals in a lockdown Beach defensive effort. UTEP was receiving votes in the Associated Press Top-25 poll going into the game. LBSU handed the Miners their first loss of the season.
Others nominated: Beth Balbierz (Cal Poly); Michelle Berry (Cal State Fullerton); Tessa Boagni (CSUN); Morgan Bertsch (UC Davis); Brittany Crain (UC Riverside); Coco Miller (UC Santa Barbara)