Daily 49er, March 13, 2017

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 78 | MARCH 13, 2017

CHAMPS

Ben Hammerton | Daily 49er

After its 56-55 Big West Championship win over UC Santa Barbara Saturday at the Honda Center, Long Beach State’s women’s basketball team will proceed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992.

By Grester Celis-Acosta Staff Writer

ANAHEIM — After leading by 19 points midway through the third quarter, the Long Beach State women’s basketball team found itself in a game after squandering the lead in the fourth quarter.

But through all the joys and frustrations, the 49ers found themselves in a state of happiness after a jaw-dropping missed buzzer beater, which capped the

team’s 56-55 Big West Championship win over UC Santa Barbara Saturday at the Honda Center.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” senior Anna Kim said about LBSU’s lead disappearing. “We weren’t happy about the run, but we just told ourselves, ‘Hey, we can’t panic, we just need to stop the bleeding and just stay composed.’”

The 49ers will now head to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992, ending a 25-year drought.

No current player on the roster was born when LBSU last attended, so it’s a whole new generation of players.

Once the buzzer went off and the ball hit the rim, LBSU players and coaches rushed the court in excitement over the win.

Kim was one of those players, jumping for joy while holding a fist in the air

“

“

49ers take home Big West Crown after defeating UC Santa Barbara.

Man, we make things interesting, don’t we?

[I’m] just overcome with emotions.

-Jody Wynn, Head coach

and screaming her heart out.

“Thank God,” Kim said when she saw the Gauchos miss the game-winning shot.

“Right when that buzzer went off, it hit short on the rim. I just ran to hug my teammates and I – just like Raven said – was just full of joy. Just because

you work so hard for this moment and it’s actually become a reality. It’s just unreal.”

After the game, 49er head coach Jody Wynn took a second to gather herself before she spoke, just moments after her players flooded the court in celebration after the buzzer sounded.

“Man, we make things interesting, don’t we?” Wynn said. “[I’m] just overcome with emotions. The [seniors to the] left of me and the other three seniors, this has been their only goal.

They didn’t care about points, they didn’t care about individual accolades, all they wanted to do was hold up a trophy at the end of [the] season.”

Three out of the five seniors scored in double-digit points, with Kim scoring the game-high for LBSU at 15.

But none of the seniors’ points were

more important than Madison Montgomery’s, as she dropped 10 points in the fourth, including two triples.

One of those threes came at the 1:45 mark in the fourth to take back the lead after the 49ers lost it to the Gauchos seconds before.

“We just [told her], ‘You know what, Maddy? Kids come through down the stretch and played [where] they miss every shot and then they make a game winner,’” Wynn said. “‘Don’t hang your head.’”

Montgomery finished the game with 14 points.

The 49ers began the game red hot, shooting 53.3 percent from the field in the first quarter and quickly taking a

see CHAMPS, page 8

2 NEWS

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ASI

Candidates discuss platforms at forum Panel of potential student leaders present their ideas for the future of CSULB.

By Adam R. Thomas Staff Writer

For those who aren’t burnt out on democracy after last November, there is an election going on this week for the Associated Students Inc. student government at Cal State Long Beach.

And I hear what you’re thinking: who’s running? What do they want to do? Why should I care?

The candidates themselves tried their best to answer those questions when they gathered on the campus’ free speech zone during the ASI Executive Candidate Forum last Thursday at noon.

Hosted by Micayla Vermeeren, Editor in Chief of the Daily 49er, and Mat-

thew Gozzip, Athletics Editor of the Union Weekly, the forum saw six candidates hash out their promises and plans as well as answer questions during the hour-long session. It was simulcast on KBEACH radio and through the ASI media department’s online “Newsreel.”

Six candidates were present: Presidential candidates Dale Lendrum and Daniel Gomez, Vice Presidential candidates Kenia Duarte and Joe Nino and Treasurer candidates Edgar Morales and Jonathan Wanless. Not in attendance were Alan Parkes, who is running for vice president, and Samuel Kim, who is running for treasurer.

Gomez, Nino and Wanless are running as a slate called “Moving Forward Together,” and Lendrum, Duarte and Morales said they were running together in a slate called #WeGotchu.

After introductions, Vermeeren and Gozzip posed a series of questions to the candidates, while also facilitating questions from members of the roughly 25 person audience.

The opening query focused on issues related to crowded parking lots at

CSULB. Several solutions were offered – Lendrum focused on setting forward a path to building a parking structure, Gomez advocated for the installation of parking space counters and Wanless focused on expanding and promoting the TAP card program to provide free bus transport.

The next issue posed to the forum was about security and comfort plans for different communities attending CSULB. Duarte focused on connecting freshman and transfer students to more campus resources, while Nino was critical of the Student Advising, Orientation and Registration program.

“We’ve all done it before – I’m talking about SOAR – it’s just not enough,” Nino said. “As a transfer student I went to SOAR, and we learned about a lot of things, but how much are you going to retain [from] that?”

After a question from the audience regarding political division under the Trump administration, Gomez took the floor to respond.

“To address your question: in no way will we ever tell you to not speak about

what you feel is right,” Gomez said.

“That is not our place as student leaders. You’re in the middle of a free speech zone, as a matter of fact. But as far as ASI is concerned, we’re going to represent and speak to the needs of students and what they need from us.”

The final question from the moderators centered on budget and revenue issues while meeting the needs of CSULB students. Duarte and Lendrum want to petition the state government for more funding, while Gomez, Nino and Wanless addressed the need to fight against rising tuition. Morales focused on trying to address the needs of housing insecure students by organizing local efforts.

The final portion of the forum consisted of a series of questions from the audience. Gomez responded to a question regarding the proposed tuition increase with a series of planned actions to freeze tuition and reform Proposition 13. Lendrum addressed a question

FAST FACTS

EXECUTIVE SLATES • “Moving Forward Together” Daniel Gomez (President), Joe Nino (Vice President) and Jonathan Wanless (Treasurer) • #WeGotchu Dale Lendrum (President), Kenia Duarte (Vice President) and Edgar Morales (Treasurer) • No slate Alan Parkes (Vice President) Samuel Kim (Treasurer)

see FORUM, page 3

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NEWS 3

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Science Learning Center receives second life

By Adam R. Thomas Staff Writer

After decades of operation, the Science Learning Center closed following the retirement of its longtime booster Jim McKibben last September. But this month it will reopen — in a limited manner — thanks to the help of James Kisiel, professor of science education.

Whether or not the SLC stays open depends on one thing: money.

The current plan of action is to open the space up for six graduate students of science education in a limited pilot program meant to demonstrate the viability of a refocused SLC to Cal State Long Beach administrators.

The aim is to convince them that the SLC will be worth funding on a more

FORUM

continued from page 2

about how to resolve domestic violence and sexual assault drawing on his personal experiences with domestic abuse, revealing that he was once a victim as well as an abuser.

“Two years ago I became an ally in the fight,” Lendrum said. “I volunteered to be a guest speaker at events to combat sexual assault. I told my story of what it was like when I was a drug-induced perpetrator of domestic violence and began talking to the men. To try and get them to understand that it’s about us understanding what we need to do in our role in stepping up and taking responsibility for our actions.”

Current ASI vice president Logan Vournas challenged the panel what

permanent basis.

Kisiel heads the task force formed to figure out how to keep the SLC operating after it was temporarily shut down after McKibben’s departure. McKibben had been the primary faculty member at CSULB keeping the SLC running over the years, and there were questions among the student body if it would be shut down.

“When I heard that Jim McKibben was retiring, I went to the dean [Laura Kingsford] and said that we wanted to keep this thing going, and that science education would be a good place for that to be,” Kisiel said. “One of our options in our masters in Science Ed is specifically geared for people who work in museums and aquariums and that kind of stuff. How do we help people learn science?”

Since September, the task force has been responsible for reorganizing the SLC, which is located in Room 110 in the Hall of Science.

“A point of contention became that we would be getting rid of the lab animals,” Kisiel said. “And I understand.

they were planning to do in support of queer and trans students on campus.

“It’s just a matter of pushing for the resources, pushing for gender-neutral bathrooms and just advocating for the students,” Duarte said. “To keep fighting. I’m undocumented, so I’m going to keep fighting for those students just like I’m going to keep fighting for the queer community.”

After Nino responded to a question from an international student about their tuition with a plan to enact new scholarships, the forum was soon concluded by the moderators.

Voting for the ASI Elections begin today and will run until Wednesday.

For more information, check your CSULB registered email, and if you would like to view the Executive Forum in its entirety, it can be seen on the CSULB ASI YouTube channel.

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For a lot of students that were doing that, that opportunity to learn how to take care of them is really important.”

“

Part of the issue is figuring out costs and a budget to make that happen. Kisiel said that he projects a minimum cost equal to the salary of a part-time CSULB employee, as manpower is what’s most needed.

“

SLC will open at the end of March with a renewed focus on interactive education and integration.

The broader scope of the center, ethical considerations, as well as concerns over high maintenance costs also factored into the decision to remove the animals.

“I know that was disheartening to a group of students,” Kisiel said. “One of the ways I wanted to think about that issue was to think just a little bit big-

ger. To make it more sustainable. Not so heavily reliant on many volunteers or lots of funding. If we can make [the SLC] more sustainable and still keep the same sort of mission, then we’re going to have an easier time the next time there’s a transition in the future.”

New homes were found for the animals, which included live iguanas and fish, at other educational facilities. The goal is to eventually bring back some animals to the SLC, but ideally species that are lower maintenance, Kisiel said.

This frees up the SLC space to become a more interactive location at CSULB, which will make it a better place to teach graduate students how to teach children. Kisiel currently plans to install collapsible tables to allow for hands-on group activities, and more interactive exhibits.

“There’s a lot we can play with,” Kisiel said. “We want to move away from ‘hey here’s this cool thing’ to ‘take a look, what do you think is happening?’”

Kisiel plans on making the space a center of learning for both adults and children. One idea he explained, would

be to invite children from local schools and Boys & Girls Clubs to the SLC. Not only would visiting children be able to learn, but CSULB students of science education could observe these groups to find out how to better design exhibits and activities for kids.

“Whether this is able to continue will depend on funding,” Kisiel said. “That ultimately is what the dean is looking over.”

Part of the issue is figuring out costs and a budget to make that happen.

Kisiel said that he projects a minimum cost equal to the salary of a part-time CSULB employee, as manpower is what’s most needed. Kisiel and the SLC task force have already applied to the university and alumni association for grants, but hopes to see more direct funding from administration to ensure long-term viability for the center.

“Being closed for a semester or two . . . I look at that as a good opportunity to revamp, revise, continue the work,” Kisiel said. “I wish I could say I knew exactly where it was going to end up, but that’s part of the ride.”

4 ARTS & LIFE

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CULTURE

Power to the Pow Wow

The event featured food, music and dancing for all on CSULB campus.

By Estela García Staff Writer

Ceremonial regalia vibrant with color and the banging of ceremonial drums resounding throughout Cal State Long Beach introduced the 47th annual CSU Puvungna Pow Wow and Outreach.

The festival took place on Saturday and Sunday and celebrated a wide variety of Native American cultures and traditions and included native foods, vendors and cultural dances all throughout the event.

One of the biggest Pow Wows in Southern California, according to the CSULB Pow Wow’s official website, it was presented by CSULB’s American Indian Studies Program, American Indian Student Council, American Indian Student Services and Associated Students, Inc. and Student Affairs. It is student-run and organized with the help of student volunteers and community members from Long Beach and nearby areas.

The Pow Wow is an opportunity to bring American Indian tribes and members together in order to celebrate their heritages among older and newer generations.

Crowds of people gathered to spend the day surrounded by music and art. It was also an opportunity to wear traditional native dresses.

Upper campus was filled with tents and tables, every corner with something to offer.

Native food included mutton and Native tacos, which is similar to a ground beef taco but on top of thick and flaky maize, called fry bread. Traditional fry bread was also being served

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

The 47th annual CSU Puvungna Pow Wow and Outreach provided colorful, traditional American Indian clothing to celebrate the presence of American Indians on the CSULB campus. with sweeter toppings like honey and strawberry jam.

About 20 American Indian vendors were also present. Selling everything from handmade purses and tapestries to beaded necklaces and silver sterling jewelry, every item included a piece of Native American heritage.

The most popular items being sold were dream catchers, according to Miguel Sipechez, a dream catcher vendor.

“They are a symbol of how natives celebrate every part of life. A dream catcher holds our aspirations and wish-

es, but also our fears. It is native tradition to never forget about our dreams, even if they’re not real life,” said Sipechez, who hand makes dream catchers with the help of his wife.

He said that it’s important for people to know how to use the catchers, as well as the dream catcher’s significance.

Many organizations were also at the event to spread knowledge and raise awareness about native culture.

While the food and vendors were just one part of the festivities, the main attraction was the ritual dancing fea-

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Spectators in the stands watching the celebration said they couldn’t help but feel a sense of American history and dedication it takes to continue these native traditions for hundreds of years. .

“It’s kind of overwhelming how beautiful it all is,” said Tim Mays, who was in the stands with his young daughter.

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tured in the center of the Pow Wow. A ring was formed around a sitting area that included members of native tribes. People danced to banging drums and songs from a seated band just outside the ring. Children dressed in bright dresses and feathered and beaded head pieces danced along with their elders.

A woman carrying a fox skin was seen walking around the ring as more entered to dance along.

This went on for hours as individual dances were dedicated to everyone from students to military veterans and

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FESTIVAL

continued from page 4

Mays has been going to the Pow Wow for years and still says he learns something every time. “I meet new people every time and I get something out of it. Not being a native myself, everyone who participates makes you feel welcomed and shows you a part of where they come from.”

Sara Godinez is a second year history student at Cal State Los Angeles who attended the Pow Wow as an assignment for her political science class.

“I didn’t know this was an event being held and I didn’t know much about it. So far it has been really cool and there’s a lot to see. It’s nice to have an event that’s focused on a culture and people get to come and be a part of that culture and get to observe it,” Godinez said.

She also appreciated the fact that ethnic food was being sold and that the vendors would get to profit off merchandise that is culturally celebrated.

The Pow Wow ended both days with a retiring of colors from several tribes and a dance out to say farewell until next year.

Native Americans perform a dance during the 47th annual CSU Puvungna Pow Wow and Outreach Sunday.

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

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6 OPINIONS

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DISCRIMINATION

Got Racism? With milk, yes Milk is becoming the new symbol of hate among white nationalists.

By Samantha Diaz Staff Writer

W

hen you think of milk, what first comes to your mind? If you’re a millennial, you probably think of strong bones, Got Milk? commercials, or maybe eating your favorite cereal while watching cartoons on a Saturday morning.

What about racism? White nationalism? If you’re having trouble finding the connection between these institutions and milk, you’re not alone.

You, along with the rest of the nation, have been so accustomed to hearing the benefits of milk that you probably didn’t even realize the subtle racism hidden in our health facts.

It may not surprise you that the United States was founded on racism. That every institution we uphold has racist roots that are sometimes difficult to catch and even harder to fight against.

This phenomenon affects our voter ID laws, state testing and, yes, even our federal dietary guidelines. But how can our health guidelines, a system meant to be built upon scientific fact alone, have racist messages? Where there is a deep-rooted tradition to suppress an entire race’s existence, there’s a way.

The federal endorsement of milk in American diets contributes to the problem by uncritically pushing people to drink milk, despite the potential detriment it has on non-white people’s health.

Our current federal dietary guidelines urge people to drink three cups of milk a day, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The main health benefit of milk is to guard against osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones — hence the “stronger bones” rhetoric. While this is a very practical health benefit, osteoporosis affects Africans at a significantly lower rate than it does most Americans, according to an article on Mother Jones.

These facts about milk were brought to attention by a scientific magazine that got trickled down into the world of 4chan, where the facts were distorted and exaggerated to fit a racist rhetoric for white supremacy.

The online trollers decided to take their milk jugs to the public using Shia LaBeouf ’s social experiment livestream project, “He Will Not Divide Us,” which began as a protest against President Donald Trump. The installation has since been

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POW

DRINK CONSCIOUSLY

ER

Graphic Illustration by Stephanie Hak

shut down by the host, The Museum of Moving Images, for being “a serious and ongoing public safety hazard,” according to a February article by USA Today.

This is the basis that white supremacist milk chuggers used for their bring-your-own-milk-jug party using Shia LaBeouf ’s camera to advance their hateful message. In an effort to prove their masculinity, a dozen middle-aged white men showed up shirtless, shouting about how they need to “secure the future of our diet and the future for milk drinking.” One man proudly displayed his neo-Nazi tattoo while spitting milk into the livestream camera.

This odd form of white supremacy also received cinematic attention through Jordan Peele’s horror movie “Get Out,” a movie that highlights racism in a post-racial America.

Peele artistically addresses the new medium of hate with one of the film’s most eerie scenes, which shows a white woman meticulously sipping milk from a bendy straw. The scene would have gone unnoticed in the movie, but audiences were forced to notice the long, drawn-out frame of the woman taking a sip; Peele wanted people to notice.

These seemingly coincidental acts of racism are

Daily 49er Micayla Vermeeren

NUTRITION FACTS

MILK

backed by the way milk continues to be represented in American diets.

The Mother Jones article states that not only is milk non-beneficial to Africans, but following the guidelines may actually be detrimental to their health. There is a strong correlation to calcium consumption and an increased risk of prostate cancer, unproportionally affecting African men. Furthermore, both black children and adults generally secrete less calcium on a daily basis than white people, making them less dependent upon milk.

Remember that this is the dietary guidelines for Americans. I want to emphasize that last word.

These guidelines are for Americans. This means they should reflect the health needs of the ethnicities that make up America which, news flash, isn’t just white people. And since the African American community in the U.S. is continuously rising, it seems only logical to acknowledge that while something may be beneficial for one group of people, that may not be the case for another.

These differences are now leaving the world of health and spilling into our political and social lives. Milk has now become a symbol of racial superiority for white nationalists and neo-Nazis,

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claiming that their ability to process milk makes them racially superior.

That Peele came up with the idea for the scene days before shooting began, not knowing that the release of his movie would be perfectly timed with the sudden rise of interest for milk among white supremacists, is proof that the connection between milk and white supremacy is gaining visibility.

“That scene is just one of my favorites,” Peele told the LA Times. “There’s no dialogue in it — just this beautiful psychotic image that gives me glee when it happens in the film.”

The milk scene in “Get Out,” along with LaBeouf ’s livestream, turned what started out as internet trolling into yet another form of nonsensical white superiority. And while there is little logic to the train of thoughts involved in choosing the next inanimate face of racism, our country’s health guidelines certainly take part of the blame for this one.

Until we recognize the racist roots in our own systems of government and fight to remove them, we are all in part responsible for the white, creamy form of racism currently taking hold in our country.

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SPORTS 7

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Long Beach State’s sophomore forward Mason Riggins walks off the floor in disappointment after the 49ers lost to UC Irvine Friday night.

Ben Hammerton | Daily 49er

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LBSU’s march ends in semifinals

Although their season is over the 49ers’ future looks bright with the return of a majority of its roster.

By Christian Gonzales Staff Writer

The men’s basketball team and head coach Dan Monson were hoping to tick

at the right time for the Big West Tournament this past weekend.

Unfortunately, the 49ers were decimated by UC Irvine’s defense in the semifinals.

With shots not falling Friday night and being unable to counter on 20 offensive rebounds, the Anteaters were able to hold off the 49ers in the last minutes of the game.

With the final score of 63-57, sadness spewed from the 49ers’ bench.

LBSU’s starters and role players were bathed in grimaces and sweat, some covering their faces with towels as they

walked toward the locker room at the Honda Center, knowing that their season was over.

But, junior Justin Bibbins is looking on the bright side of things.

“We will back next year,” Bibbins said. “You’ve just got to look on the bright side of things.”

Positive things from this are that the team will have back its starting five and role players that have one more year of experience behind their back.

A Player injury hurt the team when junior Gabe Levin fractures his kneecap right before conference started,

which changed the 49ers’ identity.

Junior Roschon Prince was the perfect fit for the way Monson wanted to play in conference. He was an All-Big West honorable mention with 13.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in conference games this season.

The last game should not be forgotten by the 49ers – and fans especially – with the way sophomore Temidayo Yussuf grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and 10 points for his second double-double of the season.

“I’m proud of all these guys,” Monson said. “This has been one of the best

groups I’ve had as far as representing this university, if you take out that we didn’t win as much as we should’ve, but this is a group of good guys.”

An exciting freshman guard Jordan Roberts, from Ridgeview High school, is coming to the program next season.

He is a 6-foot-8-inch guard and size is what lacks from this roster, especially at the guard position.

Along with most of its roster back, the addition of Roberts and experienced backcourt is something to be enthusiastic about the way the program is headed in.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

49ers keep streak going with win

Long Beach State has multiple players earn ASICS Tournament honors after Saturday’s match against Loyola.

By Monica Gallardo Staff Writer

Bobby Yagake | Daily 49er

Long Beach State outside hitter TJ DeFalco tries to spike the ball past USC sophomore middle blocker Ryan Moss on Jan. 20.

On Saturday, the men’s volleyball showed no signs of slowing down from their win streak as the team swept No. 10 Loyola University Chicago to win the ASICS Tournament at the Walter Pyramid.

Setter Josh Tuaniga and opposite hitter Kyle Ensing received ASICS All-tournament Team honors, while outside hitter TJ DeFalco was named tournament MVP. “I wouldn’t have won that if I didn’t have my teammates,” DeFalco said.

“Everything from Josh [Tuaniga] set-

ting me the ball and [Andrew] Whitt and [Andrew] Sato passing it so well, I wouldn’t have won MVP if I didn’t have my teammates, so it’s all to them.”

The 49ers (19-2, 13-1 MPSF) opened the game with a kill by DeFalco, who went on to rack up a total of 11 kills and a .360 attacking percentage at the end of the night. LBSU remained in control throughout the first set, taking advantage of 11 errors committed by the Loyola Ramblers. A kill by Ensing gave the 49ers a quick 12-5 lead and Tuaniga later ended the set with a service ace, giving the LBSU the 25-13 set win.

The Ramblers (11-7, 6-3 MIVA) then got the early lead in set two after a service error by Tuaniga, which DeFalco and middle blocker Bryce Yould answered with a block of Collin Mahan’s attempted attack. Both teams went on to be tied 12 more times in the set before LBSU crept closer to a sweep. Just before Tuaniga was about to serve for the set point, Loyola shouted for a time-

out but had no luck after regrouping, as their two hitting errors gave the 49ers the set win 25-20.

Set three began in favor of the 49ers due to a kill by Ensing. Despite having a team attacking percentage of .414 compared to Loyola’s .050, LBSU once again found itself going back and forth with the set lead. The Ramblers later called their final timeout after DeFalco’s service ace gave the 49ers a 20-16 lead.

Loyola, however, watched DeFalco serve another ace after they came back from the bench and lost the set 25-19 when Ensing served an ace of his own.

Coach Alan Knipe said, “I thought our offense was really good throughout the tournament...overall, I thought our blocking defense was better than it’s been the last couple of weeks, and I thought our offense got going in each match.”

The 49ers will travel to No. 11 Cal State Northridge to face the Matadors on Friday at 7 p.m.

8 SPORTS

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 DAILY49ER.COM | SPORTSD49ER@GMAIL.COM

The Long Beach State women’s basketball team poses with their Big West Championship trophy after defeating UCSB 56-55 Saturday at the Honda Center.

CHAMPS

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18-8 lead by the end of the first.

That strong offensive performance carried into the second quarter as the 49ers kept up their stellar shooting, which increased to 60 percent.

By halftime, LBSU had a commanding 33-19 lead.

In the third, the 49ers extended their advantage to 19 in the first 3:30 of the quarter. The 19-point lead was the largest of the night.

But despite the 49ers’ hot start through the first 24 minutes of the game, UCSB fought back into the game as they outscored LBSU 16-9

“

We weren’t happy about the run, but we just told ourselves, ‘Hey, we can’t panic, we just need to stop the bleeding and just stay composed.’

“

-Anna Kim, Senior guard

in the quarter and came within seven points of the lead by the end.

The 49ers slowly but surely saw their lead shrink away and struggled to maintain it.

UCSB took hold of the lead at the 2:27 mark in the fourth thanks to a triple by sophomore Coco Miller; this marked the first lead for the Gauchos.

Frustration in final minutes crept up to the 49ers, but no minute was more anxiety-filled than the final one of the game.

The 49ers did not get a shot up, had a few turnovers and two fouls counted against them, which allowed the Gauchos to score two out of four free throws and come within a point.

The game took another turn when

Kim dove for a deflected inbounds pass and called a timeout in the air before hitting the ground out-of-bounds in the final 10 seconds of the game.

The timeout call did not count because the referees ruled that a player cannot call a timeout in the air without securing possession of the ball inbounds.

That lost possession gave the Gauchos seven seconds left to score a basket and secure a championship victory.

But, like in the semifinals victory over CSUN, UCSB failed to drain a basket as sophomore Sarah Porter missed a game-winning triple, which had the arena gasp for air as it went up.

“I thought it would be a little short,” Gauchos head coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “But [Porter] got a good look at it… I’m disappointed in the outcome for them, but I am not disappointed in them.”

Afterwards, as the 49ers hoisted the trophy in the air, players began to dance on the court and chant “We got the Chip.”

Players and coaches also took turns cutting and taking pieces off the basketball net.

The most iconic moment of the night was when Wynn climbed the ladder with the support of her husband and assistant coach Derek Wynn. She then cut off the net from the rim and twirled it over her head for players and fans to see.

“I’m just really proud of the resolve that we’ve had throughout the year and fighting the adversity that we’ve [had],” Wynn said after the game. “[We] fought through injury and to be able to step up in the biggest stage of their young lives. I’m just really proud of their focus, their togetherness and… I’m really proud to be their coach.”

The 2017 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship bracket will be on today at 4 p.m. on ESPNU. LBSU will be hosting a watch party at Legend’s at 3:30 p.m.

Ben Hammerton | Daily 49er

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

Senior guard Anna Kim celebrates winning the Big West Conference championship by cutting the net Saturday at the Honda Center.

Jose De Castro | Daily 49er

Coach Jody Wynn screams with joy after helping the women’s basketball team win their fifth Big West Conference title Saturday at the Honda Center.