Pepperdine University
Portland
Late Heroics Carry the Waves Over the Pilots 66-63
1/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2012
Click HERE to see the buzzer-beater finish!
MALIBU, Calif. - Sharp three-point shooting from junior Shay Cooney-Williams and senior Katie Menton proved to be the difference for the Pepperdine women's basketball team as they defeated Portland in come-from-behind fashion 66-63 on Saturday afternoon.
Menton (Coarsegold, Calif./Yosemite HS) hit a three-pointer with 32 seconds left to bring the Waves (8-7, 3-1 WCC) within one and another with three seconds left to tie the game up at 63-63. With 2.2 seconds on the board the Pilots' (7-11, 0-4 WCC) inbound pass was stolen by Cooney-Williams (Frisco, Texas/Frisco HS) who put the ball back up from just inside the half court line to sink the game-winner at the buzzer.
The Waves tough-nosed defense played a big part as well in the victory, forcing the Pilots into 28 turnovers.
Cooney-Williams, making just her second start of the season, tied her career-high of 19 points to lead the Waves in scoring. She hit a career-high four three-pointers on 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.
Senior guard Jazmine Jackson(Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) finished with 17 points and a team-high four steals. Menton came through in a big way for the Waves down the stretch, scoring all of her 13 points in the second half and hitting three three-pointers.
Cooney-Williams made her presence felt right away in the first half, as she nailed a three-pointer to put the Waves ahead 3-0. The Pilots would answer with their first two-pointer, but Jackson would convert on the other end to up the Waves up 5-2 with 18:53 to go. The back-and-forth scoring would continue as the Pilots made it 5-4 at 18:03.
The 5-4 lead would hold through the 15:44 mark when Jackson again converted a layup to put the Waves ahead 7-4. A three-pointer by Portland's ReZina TeleMariam would tie things up at 7-7 with 15:00 left in the first. The Pilots would hit another from behind the arc to take their first lead of the game at the 14:26 mark.
The Waves would tie things up and take an 11-10 lead on a layup by Jackson and two free-throws by Cooney-Williams.
However the Pilots would go on a 6-0 run through the 9:05 mark to put the score at 17-11. Freshman guard Ea Shoushtari(Los Angeles, Calif./L.A.C.E.S.) broke the streak with a jumper to put the score at 17-13.
The Waves and Pilots traded baskets through the 4:06 mark, when a free throw shot by Portland's Cassandra Brown gave the Pilots a one point lead, 22-21. That free throw sparked a 7-2 run by the Pilots to build their lead up to six, 29-23 with 1:29 to go.
The Waves fought through the halftime buzzer and two late two-pointers by Jackson would put the halftime score at 29-27 Portland.
A key for the Waves in the half was 17 points off 17 forced turnovers. The team was led by Cooney-Williams with 12 points.
The Waves opened the second half much like the first - with a three-pointer from Cooney-Williams to take a 30-29 lead. However the Pilots would go on a 14-0 run to gain a double-digit lead, 43-30 through the 17:06 mark.
A free throw by Shealy at the 15:25 mark broke the scoring drought for the Waves. Two free-throws by the Pilots built their game-high lead back to 13, 44-31.
The Waves started to mount a comeback, going on a 7-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to six, 44-38 with 12:14 to go.
Through the 7:49 mark the Waves and Pilots continued to trade baskets, with the Pilots' lead hovering around nine points.
With 5:08 to go the Pilots lead was at 11, 57-46. A three-pointer by Cooney- Williams with 4:51 to go put the score at 57-49. However the Pilots would answer to push their lead back to double-digits.
The Waves would mount an 8-2 run through the final 40 seconds, cutting the Pilots' lead to four, 61-57. Menton would strike with her second three-pointer of the game to put the Waves down one, 61-60.
The Waves would force a Pilot turnover on the inbounds play with 27 seconds left, but Jackson would turn the ball back over to the Pilots with 17 seconds left. The Waves would foul and the Pilots would hit both free throws to push their lead back to three, 63-60 with 14 seconds left.
On the next possession the Waves would bring the ball down the court with urgency and the ball found its way into the hands of Menton who shot a deep three from the top of the arc to tie the game 63-63 with three seconds to go.
With 2.2 seconds on the clock, the Waves came out with pressure defense and forced the Pilots' into a tough inbounds pass that was stolen by Cooney-Williams who put up the game winner just within the mid court line with 0.5 on the clock to ensure the 66-63 victory.
Next up the Waves will travel to Provo, Utah to face WCC newcomer BYU on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. PT.
