MALIBU, Calif. – Daphanie Kennedy notched 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pepperdine women’s basketball team to a 70-38 season-opening win over Cal State Northridge on Friday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

 

The Waves shot 38.5% from the field compared to 26.7% for the Matadors, outrebounded Northridge 49-38 and finished 6-17 from the three-point line, compared to 1-13 for the Matadors. The Waves got off to a 9-0 lead in the first half and cruised from there, as they improved to 22-3 all-time against the Matadors.

 

“It’s great to start the season on the right foot,” Pepperdine Coach Julie Rousseau said. “We came out strong in the beginning of the game, we had a quick tempo.”

 

Kennedy (Oakland, Calif./Kearny HS) sparked the Waves, as she shot 9-of-22 from the field and recorded her first double-double of the season in the win.

 

“We’re satisfied with the game,” Kennedy said. “We had the same frame of mind as we did in the preseason and we’re ready to take on Iowa State on Sunday.”

Jessica Ross (Gilroy, Calif./Notre Dame HS) and Alisha Bryant (Pacoima, Calif./Chatsworth HS) each registered 11 points, and Teiosha George (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale HS) posted eight points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

 

“We did a good job in the second half executing and we’re excited to go to Iowa,” Rousseau said. “It’s a great atmosphere and a great challenge to play a team of that caliber.”

 

Up next, the Waves travel to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT.  The game at Iowa State will be a shared streaming event, meaning that Pepperdine fans can watch the game on our Wave Casts by going to www.pepperdinesports.com.