PORTLAND, Ore. — Despite career-highs from Kendyl Carson (25 points) and Cheyenne Givens (nine assists), the Waves lost a 101-94 heartbreaker to the Portland Pilots on Saturday.

Pepperdine (5-17, 2-15 WCC) had gone into the game averaging 56 PPG, shot better than 55% from the field throughout the game and eclipsed its season-high in points in the waning moments of the third quarter.

• Freshman guard Kendyl Carson (Juneau, Alaska/Juneau Douglas HS) led the Waves with a career-high 25 points on 8-for-13 shooting. Saturday was her tenth game scoring in double-figure scoring this season, which is a team-high.
• Junior guard Cheyenne Givens (Gardena, Calif./LA Trade Tech) set a new career high with nine assists while adding eight points. She either scored or assisted on 34 of Pepperdine's points. 
• Senior forward Monique Andriuolo (Melbourne, Australia/Maribyrnong Secondary College) notched her fifth double-double of the season by scoring 20 points and adding 10 boards.

GAME RECAP

Pepperdine and Portland kept things close until midway through the first quarter, when the Waves pulled ahead with baskets from Tara Dusharm (Foley, Minn./Saint Louis) and Andriuolo — both of whom led the Waves early with six points apiece. Although both teams traded baskets, the Waves were able to build a lead with threes from Carson and Malia Bambrick (Santa Clarita, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS). Bambrick's buzzer-beating three after the end of the first quarter gave Pepperdine a 26-21 lead. 

The bench came alive in the second quarter. Jayda Ruffus-Milner (North Hills, Calif./Harvard-Westlake HS) and Jane Nwaba (Carson, Calif./Palisades Charter HS) combined for eight points in the second quarter as the Waves increased their lead. Despite a full-court press from the Pilots, the Waves broke the pressure and picked its spots well in the first half: Pepperdine made 55.6% of its shot attempts while only turning over the ball over six times (to Portland's seven). Five Waves led the way with eight points and three players had four assists in a balanced, first-half effort.

The Waves didn't relent in the third. After Carson buried her third three to open the quarter, Andriuolo went on a personal 5-0 run in 1:49 to give Pepperdine a 12-point lead with 5:26 to go. Portland tried to counter, but another three from Carson and an and-one opportunity from Dusharm brought the Waves up 13 points — their largest lead of the afternoon. Carson would score 11 points in the third quarter.

Portland gave up points in the paint from Andriuolo and Bambrick before turning up its defensive intensity in the fourth. Pepperdine didn't make a field goal for nearly seven minutes as the Pilots ripped off a 16-2 run to reclaim the lead with three minutes to go in regulation. Givens and Ruffus-Milner answered the call at the free-throw line as the teams traded two-point leads late in the game — that is, until Andriuolo provided the highlight of the game with 33 seconds to play.

With the game tied at 86 apiece, Bambrick made the first, but missed her second free throw. Andriuolo stole the rebound, took one dribble and banked in a right-handed layup with 29 seconds left to give Pepperdine an 89-86 lead. Both teams split a pair of free throws within the final minute before Portland drew contact on a corner three attempt on the Pilots' final possession in regulation. Pepperdine's ensuing three-pointer attempt fell short, bringing both teams into overtime tied at 90.

Andriuolo's layup opened up the scoring in overtime to give the Waves a 92-90 lead. But Portland's defense and depth were the difference, as several Waves fouled out and the Pilots made their free-throws in an 8-0 overtime run. Carson's layup with 41 seconds left provided the only other Pepperdine points in overtime.

KEY STATS

• Four Waves scored in double-figures.
• The Waves' 90 points in regulation was their highest since scoring 91 against California Baptist in the opening round of the 2019 WNIT.
• Pepperdine out-shot Portland 55.7% to 49.3%.
• Portland scored 29 points off of 20 Pepperdine turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Waves will head to Las Vegas for the 2021 University Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament, held at the Orleans Arena from March 4-9. Pepperdine's first-round opponent will be announced tomorrow morning. Fans will not be permitted.