Pepperdine University
New Mexico
Pepperdine Falls at New Mexico, 60-52
12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Pepperdine women's basketball team played a strong second half, but couldn't come all the way back on the road against New Mexico, falling 60-52 on Saturday afternoon.
The Waves conclude non-conference play with the loss, falling to 4-7. New Mexico improves to 6-3.
After trailing by double-digits, Pepperdine cut it to a nine-point game at the 1:07 mark of the third quarter with a three from Allie Green (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento HS). The Lobos would push it back to a 45-34 game heading to the fourth.
The Waves cut it to an eight-point game three times in the final period, but couldn't get any closer. A Keitra Wallace (Brea, Calif./Brea Olinda HS) free throw made it 47-39 at the 7:35 mark and the teams would trade baskets for the next three minutes. New Mexico then got a jumper from Laneah Bryan and a three-point play from Khadijah Shumpert to take a 57-44 lead with 2:35 to play.
The Waves got a last second basket from Erica Ogwumike (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods HS) to make it an eight-point margin at the final. Ogwumike finished with 11 points and Wallace had 12.
It was a slow shooting first half for the Waves, who went into the break down 29-15. Pepperdine shot just 16.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from the free throw line. Neither team shot well from distance, hitting a combined two 3-pointers in the first half. Ogwumike had five points for the Waves.
Pepperdine couldn't overcome poor free throw shooting on the road, going 19-for-36 from the line. The Waves were able to score 37 points in the second half after putting up just 15 in the first two quarters. Pepperdine outscored New Mexico by six points in the second half.
The Waves will be back in action on Dec. 21 when they open up West Coast Conference play at home against Gonzaga. Pepperdine also hosts Portland on Dec. 23. Both of those games can be seen live on WaveCasts via TheW.tv.
