MALIBU, Calif. –  The Pepperdine women’s basketball team and Portland battled through two tough overtimes, but the Waves fell 84-83 in a West Coast Conference game at Firestone Fieldhouse. 

Pepperdine (6-15, 1-7 WCC) led by as many as 14 points in the second half with 8:40 remaining, but the Pilots (14-9, 4-4 WCC) finished regulation on a 23-9 run to send the game into overtime. 

The first overtime saw the Pilots lead throughout, until a three-pointer by Daphanie Kennedy’s (Oakland, Calif./Kearny HS) with 17 seconds left knotted the score at 74-74. The Pilots were unable to convert their last second effort, sending the game into the second overtime. In the second overtime, the Pilots again led throughout, but Kennedy hit a three-pointer with six seconds left cut the margin to 84-83. The Waves did not get any more offensive looks, as the Pilots ran out the clock to claim the win.

The game was sent into overtime after the Pilots furious rally knotted the score at 65-65. The Waves had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but Kennedy’s running jumper narrowly spun off the rim, sending the game into the first overtime.

The Waves led 31-25 at the half after shooting 45.2% from the field compared to a 40.7% mark  for the Pilots.The Waves cooled off in the second half, managing just a 34.4% mark compared to 43.8% for Portland.

Kennedy scored a game-high 26 points and notched six rebounds and four assists, Miranda Ayim (London, Ont., Canada/Saunders Secondary) scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Teiosha George (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale HS) notched her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

For Portland, Allyson Sievers scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds, Laiken Dollente notched 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Karlie Burris recorded 17 points and seven rebounds. 

Up next, the Waves host Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at Firestone Fieldhouse.