PCAA Women’s Tournament : Brown Returns to Help 49ers

Center Cindy Brown of Cal State Long Beach, named the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. Women’s Player of the Year Thursday, was benched last Sunday for disciplinary reasons, according to 49er Coach Joan Bonvicini.

The coach reportedly wasn’t happy with Brown’s effort in last Friday’s win over UC Irvine, and the 6-2 junior sat out the 49ers’ victory over UC Santa Barbara.

The punishment was extended to include the first five minutes of Thursday night’s first-round PCAA tournament game against the Gauchos at Long Beach.

But once Brown got into the game, she scored 14 points in 21 minutes to help the 49ers gain a 94-63 victory over Santa Barbara and a berth in today’s tournament semifinals at the Forum.

Forward Carol Brandt led the seventh-ranked 49ers (27-3) with 20 points.

Kristen Nicholson led Santa Barbara (6-22) with 20 points.

Other first-round PCAA women’s results:

Cal State Fullerton 76, Hawaii 69--Titan forward Robin Holmes scored a tournament-record 37 points to help Fullerton (11-17) hold off the Rainbows (14-14) and advance to the semifinals against Nevada Las Vegas.

Holmes made 13 of 24 shots from the floor and 11 of 11 from the line.

Nevada Las Vegas 77, Pacific 70--The Rebels beat the Tigers despite shooting only 43% from the field (30 of 69) and committing 30 turnovers.

San Diego State 73, UC Irvine 56--The victory moved the Aztecs into a berth opposite Cal State Long Beach in today’s semifinals.