Daily Forty-Niner, Dec. 9, 2019

weekly print edition

DAILY FORTY-NINER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS

Inside the

Niner

Vol. LXXI, Issue 15

www.daily49er.com

Monday, December 9, 2019

NEWS Protesting at the president’s house

SPORTS Women’s basketball looks to rebound

PAGE 6 & 7

PAGE 12

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER Students are stressing and studying this week in preparation for their finals.

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Down 1. Women’s basketball player Naomi Hunt played this position before deciding to redshirt this season.

3. Latino students make up the ______ demographic at CSULB. 4. this student population has seen a decrease in graduation rate through the years.

6. Alvin _____ had his car stolen and is at risk of losing $8,000.

7. Although being a maledominated field, ______ careers have seen an increase in women representation.

Across 2. Native Americans gathered in front of President Conoley’s ______ protesting the proposed Puvungna parking lot.

5. Andrew Dyson, in his spill the tea answer, plans on smoking ______ after his finals 8. The dueling opinions is on the differences of _____

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Large demographic, low graduation rate

NEWS 3

The Latino student population is increasing, and graduation rates are decreasing, studies show.

By Mireya Tagle & Guadalupe Perez Staff Writers

K

arely Nevares, a fourth-year fashion merchandising major and first-generation Latina student at Long Beach State, said she is ready to be the first in her family to graduate college.

“Some responsibilities as a firstborn are to take care of my siblings and do chores around the house,” Nevares said. “I also have the responsibility of going to school and making sure I do all my assignments and working part-time.”

Latinos are the biggest ethnic group on campus and their graduation rates are rising, but they fall behind other student populations when it comes to finishing their education.

According to a 2018 report conducted

by The Campaign for College Opportunity, the “Latinx educational attainment has improved over the last decade.” There has been an increase in the Latino student population attending community college or a four-year university.

Latinos are the largest demographic at CSULB with 13,506 students out of the 31,447 total student population.

“California is more Latino, therefore you’re going to see more Latinos,” said Irma Corona-Nieto, an adviser for CSULB’s Equal Opportunity Program.

Corona-Nieto has worked at CSULB for over 39 years. She helps students navigate challenges throughout their college career. She said she has seen how the school demographics have changed over the years, and that the Latino population has increased.

“There is a hunger for education and students are challenging themselves to go beyond,” Corona-Nieto said. “The problem is not bringing Latinos in. It’s retaining them.”

Although students said there are resources, they said they want more to make their learning process easier.

“We have a career center and counselors to go ask questions, but most of the times I’ve gone with them everything is so rushed,” Nevares said. “It feels as they just want you in and out of there.”

Nevares said that many Latino students struggle to adjust to school life while working and keeping up with family responsibilities. The balance between trying to excel in school and making their family proud can take a toll, she said.

“I think the responsibilities don’t end because we’re considered the second parent,” Nevares said.“Hispanic culture doesn’t recognize how hard the student life can be.”

Nevares said she feels her family might not understand how hectic it gets when she divides her time. She has her responsibilities at home and she has to work part-time in order to continue her studies.

“My family wasn’t supportive with me going to college,” she said. “They actually wanted me to work full-time and quit college to help out with the family expenses.”

Nevares is not the only one who

said they face these challenges as a Latino student.

Javier Estrada Perez, a third-year criminal justice major, also understands the struggles of being a first-generation Latino college student.

“A challenge that I have faced in college is not having a parent to relate to in terms of college education... in guidance or asking questions related to the college experience,” Estrada Perez said.

Corona-Nieto said it’s harder for students to want to continue their education because they don’t see an example of someone who goes through the same challenges.

“They don’t see role models in the classroom that reflect them, so they don’t see themselves being able to carry their education forward,” Corona-Nieto said.

“They are struggling between their family responsibilities, personal development and their academic development.”

Alfa Lopez, fourth-year Spanish major, understands the importance of proving Latino stereotypes wrong and bettering themselves professionally by obtaining a higher education.

“You don’t have to remain a construction worker, a house cleaner or a babysitter [all your life],” Lopez said.

“That’s why it is important to show future generations that you can make it out there professionally.”

Monica Chacon, a first-year graduate student, said Latinos like herself have been pushing toward attaining a degree at a higher educational institution.

“Negative rhetoric [about Latinos] is pushing Latinos to continue pursuing a higher education,” Chacon said.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Latinos have the highest enrollment rate with 43% at CSULB. The Asian student population has the second-highest enrollment with 22%.

The White student population has the thirdhighest enrollment rate with 17%.

According to the statistics, Latino students have the highest enrollment, but only 9,000 graduates. During a sixyear period, about 4,000 Latino students dropped out. Both the Asian and White student populations had higher graduate and continuation rates in comparison to Latino students.

The report from The Campaign for College Opportunity described one of the contributing factors for a lower Latino graduation rate is their socioeconomic status and a lack of resources presented to them to thrive in a college environment.

“The Latinos that are coming to the university have a lot of financial and economic situations,” Corona-Nieto said.

“They live in areas that are underserved, their high schools under prepare them.”

The CSU graduation and continuation rates for incoming Latino students at CSULB shows a fluctuation in continuation rates. In fall 2015, 89.3% of students returned for the spring semester. In fall 2016 it decreased to 88% and continued to decrease in fall 2017 to 85.3%.

“Despite all the thought of quitting college and working full-time, it isn’t really an option for me...I’ve gone too far to just quit at this point and not be able to see and experience if it is worth it,” Nevares said.

Latino students at CSULB have to balance university life, work and family responsibilities. Data shows that this balancing act has caused a decline in their graduation rates.

Courtesy of the National Center for Education Statistics/CSULB

4 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

Lost car, lost cause MISSING

CSULB graduate student says he is “frustrated” after his car was stolen near a security camera in a campus parking lot.

By Emma Carlsen Podcast Editor

W

MISSING

MISSING

ILLUSTRATION BY STEPHANIE HOLT

alking to the empty spot where he knew his car was parked, graduate student Alvin Huynh realized that one of his worst fears had come true—his car was missing.

When he called the University Police Department, an officer was dispatched to make sure Huynh hadn’t simply misplaced his car. “[The police] could tell that I was panicking,” Huynh said.

Circling the area where his car was last parked and seeing nothing, Huynh lost hope of finding his missing vehicle. He reported his black 2008 Acura TSX missing from Employee Parking Lot 1 around 7 p.m. on Nov. 11. Huynh said he only has liability insurance for the car, so he is at risk of losing around $8,000, the value of the vehicle.

Police told Huynh, that essentially, all he could do was sit and wait for a phone call from them with any new information. He recalls UPD officers telling him that his case would probably sit on their desk for two weeks before they could get to it.

Huynh did all he could to protect the safety of his car, including locking his car and parking only about 20 feet from the nearest security camera.

He said the police department didn’t do enough on its end to protect it.

“For the amount we pay for parking, it should be going to more patrols,” Huynh said.

As there was no broken glass or any other sign of the theft of his car, UPD said the thieves likely copied the car’s electronic key code in order to steal it.

There are a few different ways that thieves can break into cars with a key fob like Huynh’s, including by using amplifying devices. The devices work by picking up the signal that car keys constantly send out and enhancing that signal, according to Popular Mechanics.

With the signal enhanced, thieves are able to use it to open a victim’s car because the vehicle’s software recognizes the

key as being nearby. Using this method, criminals can steal cars without triggering their alarm systems.

Although the police said an electronic device may have been used to steal Huynh’s car, he said the thieves could have used a tow truck instead. Tow trucks pass through campus for a variety of reasons, Huynh said it’s plausible that the thieves could have towed his car away without arousing suspicion.

Some students said the school’s current security measures aren’t strong enough to prevent this kind of crime.

“I feel so vulnerable that a locked car could be stolen right under a security camera in a parking lot we paid $155 to park in,” said second-year computer science major Allison Lloyd.

The number of vehicles stolen has decreased over recent years. Car thefts dropped from 20 in 2016 to 14 in 2018, according to the UPD’s annual Clery Report.

More often, cars are reported lost than they are reported stolen. A car is thought to be lost if the owner can’t locate it. When it’s determined that a car has been taken by another person without the owner’s permission, it is then considered stolen.

According to UPD data, about five cars have been stolen so far during the 2019 calendar year. Capt. John Brockie said the number of security cameras in campus parking lots has increased, so it is likely the reason why the number of stolen cars dropped.

A car was reported lost Dec. 5 from the Pyramid Parking Structure but was later recovered as reported by UPD. It’s rare for cars to be classified as lost because they often are either determined to be stolen or later found by their owners.

UPD said its is implementing a project to install more security cameras throughout the entire campus in order to try and prevent theft, including inside of the Pyramid Parking Structure. In September, Capt.

Richard Goodwin said it was “almost certain” that security cameras would be installed in parking structures in the near future.

“Overall I think that for the size of our university, the amount of vehicle theft is on the low side,” Brockie said.

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6 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER

‘They know what the

Native American activists march university’s recent involv

Photos by RICH

By Rachel Barnes News Editor @ rachlbarnes

(Clockwise from top left) Daniel Standingbear chants outside of President Conoley’s house Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Koyolt Serrto holds a sign for vehicles to see along Bellflower Boulevard and Anaheim Road. Michelle Castillo burns sage as a blessing and protection for the protestors. A young girl is guided around a prayer circle with burning sage to bless protestors. David, who chose to withhold his last name, wears a bandana to conceal his identify during the protest. Xilone Mayahuel and her son listen to the planning of the march at Puvungna.

A

g roup of Native American activists met Saturday morning to march to President Jane Close Conoley’s home to protest possible development at Puvungna.

“It’s not about her; it’s about honoring our ancestors,” said spiritual leader Michelle

Castillo. “OK we’ll go t do it in a way that’s pe other way the message Castillo said she s were construction ve from the development North Dormitories Se parking lot on the 22-a under review, accordin According to Casti lawyer who is negotiat get the soil removed fro the majority of the pr the possible parking lo

R.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

ey’re doing is wrong’

to The Miller House to protest the vements with Puvungna.

HARD GRANT

to her house, but we’ll eaceful. If we do it any e gets lost.” saw what she thought ehicles dumping dirt t of the new Parkside ept. 20. A temporary acre parcel is currently ng to school officials. illo, the activists have a ting with the school to om the land. However, rotests are focused on ot. They chanted: “Save

it, don’t pave it,” and “Conoley, CSU, sacred land is not for you.”

Although Conoley’s neighbors were present when the protestors chanted in front of her house, she was away on a fundraising trip and was unaware of the protest.

“If the protesters are concerned about the movement of dirt from one part of the campus to our undeveloped 22-acres, one issue is that there are diverse aspirations about that land among various Native groups,” Conoley said in an email. “We moved the dirt as we did in response to a Native-led planning effort completed last year.”

NEWS 7

8 NEWS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM

RYAN GUITARE | Daily Forty-Niner

More women are choosing to pursue STEM related fields such as computer science and engineering. CSULB has seen an increase in women taking STEM courses.

Women’s successes STEM from adversity Despite STEM fields being traditionally male-dominated, the number of women pursuing these careers has grown.

By Nahid Ponciano Online Editor

P

amela Regudo’s fascination with the inner workings of technology began when she played video games as a kid.

Now a senior computer science major, she is one among a growing number of women entering a STEM field.

In 2006, 6% of female college freshmen entered school with the intention of majoring in STEM and it increased to 7.9% by 2014, according to a report by the Society of Women Engineers. Between 2011 and 2016 there was a 54% increase in bachelor’s degrees awarded to women in engineering and computer science.

“It makes me happy that young women nowadays have the resources to get an early start in STEM,” Regudo said.

“At the same time, it does increase the competition.”

Even with this progress, women are still deciding to leave the STEM field.

SWE reported that over 32% of women switch from STEM degree programs to other majors and 30% of women with a bachelor’s degree in engineering stay in the engineering field.

Regudo has said she has noticed there are more women in the lower-division computer science classes and less in the upper-division courses.

This may have to do with “perceived

inequalities” between men and women in STEM being especially common, as a Pew Research Center study reported.

According to the report, women can encounter a more hostile work environment than their male coworkers.

Discrimination and sexual harassment are also seen more frequently. Regudo said she has experienced inequalities.

“I noticed that some professors, and even students, don’t address me directly, or avoid making eye contact when they explain things in a group setting,” Regudo said. “They would only address me directly to make sure I understood the material.

It felt like I was an outsider, a fly on the wall.”

Although this may be the case for some women, many don’t allow it to discourage them from pursuing STEM. “Being in that environment is not new for me,” said Luciana Barrueto, a junior mechanical engineering major. “Over the years, I have had many classes where my classmates were mainly men and I have learned to set boundaries and be assertive.”

At Long Beach State’s college of engineering, women make up 20% of students, an increase of 15% over the past 10 years according to dean Forouzan Golshani.

In an attempt to attract more women to the engineering program, the college has an ongoing campaign such as the 100+ Women Strong campaign.

The goal of this campaign is to “provide resources that will attract, nurture,

retain, support and promote women in engineering and computing through mentoring, personal development, networking, and career assistance,” as stated on their website.

By running the 100+ Women Strong campaign, the college hopes to increase the number of women in engineering to 25% by 2025.

Some professors are already seeing a difference not just in the number of female students, but female faculty too.

“The numbers are increasing,” said Roni Allen, lecturer for the computer engineering and computer science department. “I share my office with three other women who are part-time, two are finishing up their Ph.Ds and the other works full-time in a project management position. I am amazed to see so many talented students and so much growth.”

Despite some still feeling the need to prove themselves, there are women who are sticking with STEM because it’s worth it to them.

“My favorite part is that sense of accomplishment or rewarding feeling after figuring out a problem or overcoming a challenge…it’s my biggest motivation,” Regudo said.

Although there may be women who are afraid or discouraged to try and pursue a degree in STEM, Regudo says to just give it a try.

“It may be a harder course than most, but definitely worth the struggle for a future filled with opportunities,” she said.

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Venezuela Timeline 1992

1997 Became 2nd largest purchaser of Ford F-150

2001 Elected Socialist president to fix “income inequality”

2004 Socialized private health care completely

We are living in a very dangerous time for our country. Fifty one percent of your generation and fifty seven percent of the Democrats view socialism positively.

People have either ignored what the past has told us or have not really understood what the end result is of socialism. Are Venezuela, Cuba, China, and the Soviet Union “utopian” societies where you wish to live? They are all socialist societies that profess the highest ideals for the average citizen. However, in every case, socialism has failed to live up to the promises of the leaders. The most recent example is Venezuela.

2014

Praised by Bernie Sanders for their “American Dream”

2012

Imprisoned opposition leaders

2009

Banned private gun ownership

2007

Made all higher education “free”

Once the citizens elected and installed their socialist government, the government failed, liberty was lost, and the Venezuelan society rapidly became a Communist dictatorship. It took only one generation of “progressive” leadership to plunge Venezuela into poverty and civil war. Do you wish this to happen here? What makes you think it cannot happen here? The table gives proof of how the Siren Song of “free stuff” leads to rapid economic and moral collapse. This collapse is similar to the collapse in all major countries who have implemented socialism. In our country, the Pilgrims tried socialism in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The results of work were to be held in common. The colony starved because socialisms internal contradictions (i.e., more lazy gamers than energetic workers.) When William Bradford gave each family a plot of land and instituted a capitalistic system, the bounty produced allowed the first Thanksgiving celebration.

2017 Widespread shortages of food and healthcare

2018 Suspended constitution and elections

2019 Massacred unarmed citizens by government troops

Are the promises of the socialist leaders in Venezuela similar to the promises in the Democratic debates during the past several months? Do you think this is just a coincidence or are these promises a basic socialist tactic? Has socialism worked anywhere? In distinction from what you have read, Scandinavian counties are not socialist countries. They are capitalist countries with a strong social safety net.

That is my desire for our country, a strong safety net in a capitalist system. Is it your desire also? If not, I’d love to hear your point of view. E-mail me.

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10 OPINIONS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

Spill the Tea is a weekly section for students to share their opinions and make their voices heard. Long Beach State students answer questions that can range from the silly to the political. We at the Daily Forty-Niner value the diverse opinions of the CSULB student body and look forward to you sharing them with us. This week as finals loom ever closer, Long Beach State students vent about their stress, and share their favorite ways to unwind come the semester’s end.

Are you stressing about finals? After finals are over, how are you planning on destressing?

By Celeste Huecias

Name: Evan Phillips Major: Third-year English major

Name: Leigh Hodgson Major: Fourth-year international studies

“I’m not super stressed but I’m definitely more stressed than I have been all semester. I took a smaller course load this year so that’s why it’s less stressful, but I still kind of procrastinated and waited until the last minute, which is why I made it stressful.Once it’s done I am for sure going to go camping. I destress [by] getting away from my phone and just taking a break from technology.”

“I’m always stressed about finals, well any test really. I feel like just after a test I get really happy that it’s over.I don’t really know what [I’ll] do once it’s over but just hang out with friends and not do school.”

Name: Carmen Hodgson Major: Fourth-year communication studies

Name: Andrew Dyson Major: Master’s in psychology

“I’m not too stressed anymore because if I ever find myself getting too stressed on any school assignments I just think about the quality of life. It just really isn’t worth putting myself through all this mental stress for this assignment because the school system tests us in funny ways.I’m going to go out and have a few adult beverages to unwind, but I also like to unwind by going out and hanging out with my friends.”

“On a scale of one to stress, I’d say I’m probably like a seven. Also [I’m] about 70% of the way through since most of my finals are like papers and projects so there’s not that many real exams which is rad. My favorite thing to do after being done with finals is smoke pot. [I’ll] probably just sit on my couch with a fat blunt.”

OPINIONS 11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM

By Hannah Getahun Special Projects Editor @ hannahgetahun

Filling you in on shortanswer tests

By Rachel Barnes News Editor @ rachlbarnes

I’ve always thought I was a good guesser, and I have the grades to prove it.

Every semester, I hope that my finals are a majority multiple-choice test for that reason. As many of us “gifted, but only in elementary school,” kids are, I have always known how to work a test to make sure, even if I don’t know the material, that I will pass.

This was put to the test this semester (professor don’t look please) when I took one of my midterms that was a majority multiple choice. I knew absolutely nothing more than what was on my small cheat sheet

Multiple-choice, written answer, final project: There are many forms a student’s final can take, but one stands superior to them all.

Written finals test critical thinking rather than memorization and are beneficial for student’s overall grades.

Institutions that over-utilize multiple-choice formats and ignore the written format are flawed.

Multiple-choice tests are based on memorization while written answers are based on what you know and your ability to think critically.

According to a study published by the Macrothink Institute, “an excellent critical thinker is able to use various and appropriate reasoning skills to analyze and solve a situation in the learning environment.”

The study notes that skills like

that I was allowed to bring to the test, but I was in my element. I ended up getting an 88% on the test, which I was happy with.

Of course I’d rather not have to take a final, but if I absolutely have to I need it to be at least half multiple-choice to feel confident enough to pass. Realistically, I’d never say that multiple-choice tests are a guaranteed pass if you aren’t prepared. You have to have paid attention in class at least a little.

Pure guessing with no knowledge will never work.

Statistically, questions with four choices give you a 25% chance of getting them right, 20% for questions with five choices. Final exams tend to be long, with the shortest being 50 questions in my experience. If I guess on all 50 ques-

these are learned, rather than innate. Students should strive to attain and professors should strive to instill these qualities.

Written answer formats can help cultivate these abilities.

According to studies, multiple-choice tests actually hinder a student’s ability to utilize critical thinking skills that many college students already struggle to develop. Answers that are synthesized can build these skills.

In addition, multiple-choice tests can serve as an excuse for students to spend less time studying and can encourage the retention of misinformation.

Studies published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology show that incorrect answers, when chosen during tests, can stick in a student’s memory even when a professor corrects them later.

There are aspects of multiplechoice exams that are appealing.

It takes a lot less brainpower to fill in a bubble and use a process of elimination to find an answer that has up to a 50% chance of being correct. Sometimes,

tions, and each question had four choices there is 0.0001% of just passing with a C. So obviously studying is essential, and gambling with important grades is not worth it. However, I still say that multiple-choice tests, with a few short answer questions, are the best way to test knowledge of the subject matter.

In an article for U.S. News, the vice president of research for the College Board, Wayne Camara, said that multiple-choice questions allow more forgiveness for students who may have missed a few things studying, no matter how prepared they may be.

Essay and free-response questions show that a student has more knowledge on a topic, but there is little room for success if you just don’t know the material.

looking at the correct answer in front of you can help jog your memory when you’re struggling to recall a concept. But there’s always that potential to be incorrect.

With written answers, it is a matter of synthesizing what you know a subject rather than your ability to cram data into your head.

And if you don’t know all the details of an answer, you can put bits and pieces together. Even if you get a bad score, you can show that you know something about the question in front of you and even score some partial points.

If you get something wrong on a multiple-choice test, you’re 100% wrong, even if you know a thing or two about the topic.

This is especially beneficial for the self-confidence of testtakers. Partial points don’t make you feel like a complete failure.

At least you have some grasp of these concepts, and there is room to grow.

On top of this, partial points can be great for your grade. It is probably a safe assumption to say that students like myself have

In a lot of my classes there aren’t final exams, but final projects that we work on for a significant amount of time.

No matter how much time I have to do these projects I will always start the week before they’re due. As a procrastinating perfectionist, final projects are my least favorite way to finish a class because they’ll never turn out as good as I want them to be.

Final essays, as well, aren’t my favorite because I’ve become so accustomed to news writing, that it takes me too long to remember how to write academically. I can take short answer questions, but the essay only tests take me the whole time.

Thankfully, three of my four finals this semester are a majority multiple-choice, so I just might get my degree.

once or twice BSed their way through a short answer question while being unsure if they are completely correct or not.

Partial credit shows there is no black and white as to what you should know and what is considered “right.” For most questions, there are multiple answers.

And unless you’ve completely checked out of a class, there are bound to be concepts that you have retained and can apply to your answer. (On a personal note, these were especially helpful to me in calculus, where partial points were my saving grace.)

Usually, professors are kind enough to see that there is some knowledge to your answer and will spare you that pity one-half point. And they’ll appreciate that you used some critical thinking to get your answer the way it is.

So educators: Next time you’re formatting a test for students, consider that essay questions may take longer to grade, but will add value to your students education overall.

Testing: a guessing game

12 SPORTS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM

HUNT’ING FOR SUCCESS

By Joel Ruditsky Staff Writer @ JoelRuditsky

T

he Long Beach State women’s basketball team looked to produce its first winning season since 2016-17 this year. Last season was characterized by some big losses but also plenty of hope after some stellar individual performances.

After health issues stalled the 2018-19 season, the return of a few key players was expected to help.

Shanaijah Davison, preseason AllBig West selection junior guard, had a stellar sophomore season leading the Beach (3-5) scoring with 14 points per game.

Her counterpart Naomi Hunt and fellow Big West award winner hasn’t had the same luck.

Long Beach announced at the beginning of the season that sharpshooting forward would be out for the year, and would be redshirting her junior season after tearing her ACL. The loss of Hunt is a big one for the Beach and one that will be felt all season. Long Beach has been preaching equal opportunity offense, and the players seem to be buying in, according to head coach Jeff Cammon.

“It is a tough adjustment in a sense where you don’t have someone who you know can get anywhere between 10 to 20 points a night,” Cammon said. “For us though, we already work on equal opportunity offense, so we are used to having multiple scorers.”

Hunt wasn’t just an average player last year for the Beach, playing in all 30 games for Long Beach, including 30 starts, on her way to making the All-Big West second team.

Hunt finished second on the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game and led the team in threepoint shooting at 39.7% from deep.

Davison may be feeling the effects of not having Hunt the most, as she is scoring less and shooting lower from the field than last year.

“It’s been tough without one of our main leaders and scorers, so you have to do some adjusting,” Davison said. “This year though, I am focusing on being more of a facilitator in order to make some of my teammates better.”

One of those teammates is redshirt sophomore guard Ma’Qhi Berry, who caught the eye of Cammon and her teammates.

After missing all of last season, Berry emerged as another scoring option for the Beach, recently scoring 22 against Loyola Marymount and 14 against Penn State.

“We expected Ma’Qhi to come back and be a scorer for us this year,” Cammon said. “Obviously she had to sit out last year, but that allowed her to understand the game from the sidelines, as well as grow mentally and physically.”

With Berry averaging 8.4

Long Beach State women’s basketball attempts to fill the role of junior forward Naomi Hunt after she chooses to redshirt the 2019 season.

AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily Forty-Niner

Redshirt junior forward Naomi Hunt looks for a lane against Grand Canyon University Dec. 16, 2018 at the Walter Pyramid. Hunt decided to redshirt the 2019 season after suffering an ACL injury.

points per game so far this season, she sits third on the team in scoring. For Davison and sophomore guard Justina King, however, who averages 13.4 points per game, scoring has been harder to manufacture.

Long Beach is averaging 60.4 points per game on 37.6% shooting, good for fifth and seventh respectively, out of nine teams in the Big West Conference. But the Beach only has three players with at least 20 shots per game while shooting 40% or better from the field.

Sophomore forward Jasmine Hardy is another player getting an opportunity to prove herself with increased minutes due to Hunt’s injury. Hardy currently sits third on the team in scoring with 8.5 points per game, shooting second lowest on the team at 34.7% from the field.

Senior forward Cydnee Kinslow has seen more minutes this season than last, as she currently has the second most minutes played on the team and leads the defensive charge with two steals per game. Kinslow has translated her growing role into two more points per game and one more rebound per game but her threepoint shooting is slightly down.

Even Davison, the second-leading scorer on the team with 13 points per game, is struggling due to issues with spacing and a lack of shooters, connecting on only 32.3% of her shots.

Despite the team’s dedication to giving others an opportunity, the stats thus far have shown the team is missing Hunt’s impact on the court.

However, injuries haven’t stopped the team from bonding in their quality time off the court. According to Hunt’s teammates, the time spent together as a team has still been fun and energetic.

“I can’t tell a difference in her morale at all,” Hardy said. “She’s not distant at all and she’s committed to helping us improve while she is off the court.”

Watching from the sidelines will help Hunt see the floor in ways she potentially didn’t before when she was playing. Based on the praise of her basketball IQ and attitude from Cammon and her teammates, Hunt is soaking up as much as she can while sitting on the sidelines.

“We have some tough young ladies and we don’t make excuses,” Cammon said. “We talk about grit and mental toughness, but we always have to be tougher than the situation. For us, it’s just ‘Hey, next person up.’”

In order for the Beach to improve upon their early-season struggles and compete in the Big West after being projected to finish eighth by the coaches in the Big West preseason standings, the next player up mentality must take place.

“These kids are resilient and they believe in themselves when nobody else does,” Cammon said.

“And I think ... I don’t think, I know, that we are going to prove some people wrong.”