Pepperdine University
UNLV
Waves' Late Charge Thwarted by UNLV
12/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine women's basketball team battled back to take a fourth quarter lead, but couldn't hold on late against UNLV, falling 68-61 at home.
The Waves (0-9) erased an nine-point deficit in the second half and took a two-point lead with 3:02 to play, but UNLV (7-1) closed the game on a 12-3 run to get the win.
Pepperdine forced the Lady Rebels into 20 turnovers in the game and held them to just 7-of-27 shooting from three-point territory. Yasmine Robinson-Bacote (Hillside, N.J./Hillside HS) led the charge in the second half, scoring 11 of her 16 points in the final two quarters.
The Waves trailed by as much as nine in the second quarter, but closed the half on an 8-2 run over the final 2:24. Robinson-Bacote started the run with a three-point play and then closed the half with a layup to make it a 35-32 game at the break.
The Waves owned an 18-8 points in the paint advantage and scored nine second chance points. The Waves also went 4-for-8 from three in the first half.
Sydney Bordonaro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Burrell HS) opened the second half with a three to tie the game. The teams would trade baskets through much of the third, but UNLV ended the period on a 5-0 run to take a 51-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Waves went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 56-56 and force a UNLV timeout with 5:56 to play. Robinson-Bacote knocked down a three and then Allie Green (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento HS) tied the game with a jumper. Green opened the run with a three-point play. Out of the timeout, Megan House (Oceanside, Calif./J Serra Catholic HS) got a rebound and putback with just over three minutes to play to give Pepperdine the lead.
The Lady Rebels responded with an 11-0 run, however, going up 67-58 over the next 2:30. Robinson-Bacote hit a late three, but it wasn't enough.
The Waves finished with a 26-20 points in the paint advantage and scored 16 fast-break points. The Waves also got 19 points off the bench.
Robinson-Bacote posted 16 points and seven rebounds on the day and Green scored 13. Paige Fecske (Studio City, Calif./Chaminade HS) went 2-for-2 from three-point range and Barbara Sitanggan (Fullerton, Calif./Troy HS) finished with six points and six steals.
Katie Powell scored 17 points for UNLV and Nikki Wheatley posted 13 points and 10 rebounds. Dakota Gonzalez also had a double-double, with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Rebels had five players score in double figures and owned a 51-33 rebounding advantage.
Pepperdine will be back in action on Dec. 17 when they head to Cal State Fullerton. The Waves then host Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 19 for their final non-conference matchup.
