MALIBU, Calif. – Head coach
Kristen Dowling and the Pepperdine women's basketball team announced Friday the addition of three new recruits.
Ally Stedman, Meaali'I Amosa and
Helena Friend will all join the Waves for the 2021-22 season.
"I couldn't be more excited about all three young women in this class," said Dowling. "Ally, Meaa, and Helena add great size, athleticism and skill, and are proven winners on and off the court. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Pepperdine family."
Ally Stedman | 5-11 Guard | Phoenix, Ariz. | Pinnacle HS (PHH Prep)
In her junior year at Pinnacle High, averaged 18.4 points, 4.6 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game … Helped team to a 23-7 record and a trip to the 6A conference semifinals, losing to the eventual state runners-up.
Dowling on Stedman: "Ally is one of the smartest and most explosive players in the country. She has great court vision, size, and is a consummate leader. She is a proven floor general who stretches the defense with her shooting ability. She is the ultimate competitor."
Stedman says: "I chose Pepperdine because I loved the recruiting process I had with the coaching staff, and really felt like they had a family atmosphere that I wanted to be a part of. The coaches also made me feel like I would fit in on the team with their playing style. Pepperdine is also a great school with a great location that has been my dream school since I was a kid."
Meaali'I Amosa | 6-1 Forward | Garden Grove, Calif. | Mater Dei HS
Played four years of varsity basketball at Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Calif. … Averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior … Led team to CIF Open Division title in the 2019-20 season … Named to All-CIF second team and All-Orange County second team.
Dowling on Amosa: "Meaa is a local product from one of the most successful high school programs in the nation. She rebounds the ball really well and has a strong knack for scoring. Her size, athleticism, motor and IQ make her a force to be reckoned on the defensive side of the ball."
Amosa says: "I chose Pepperdine because it was the biggest family atmosphere I felt. I knew that by committing to Pepperdine, I would develop both as a student and an athlete. I loved the coaching staff, location, players, facilities, and league so it was an easy decision to make! I also knew that I wanted to stay on the West Coast, specifically California, to stay close to my family!"
Helena Friend | 6-0 Guard | Newport Beach, Calif. | Blair Academy
Played her junior and senior years at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. … Averaged 12.0 points per game as a junior … Led team in scoring at the Nike Tournament of Champions, the NJ Class A semifinals and championship … Named MVP of the New Year's Resolution Tournament and State Tournament.
Dowling on Friend: "Helena is a legacy as her sister Hannah was the Waves' leading scorer last year as a graduate transfer. Helena is an athletic, scoring guard who plays on one of the top prep teams in the country. She is a flat-out shooter who can knock it down from deep."
Friend says: "I not only chose Pepperdine because of the world class education and beautiful views, but also because of the culture and family environment that the school stands for. Being on the basketball team at Pepperdine, I wanted to make sure that I was not only on a great basketball team but also in a place where it was more than just a team, but rather a family. The culture under Coach
Kristen Dowling is one where she strives to "win championships while developing the whole person." Coach Kristen and her staff are a group full of hardworking, high energy, fun, competitive, caring, and genuinely awesome people. This is so important to me because it is the exact environment where I can grow each day both on and off the court, as a person and a player. I can't wait to be surrounded with great people who love to work and be better as much as I do."
