MALIBU, California – Jane Nwaba of the Pepperdine women's basketball team had a career-high 13 points in Thursday night's 66-54 loss to Gonzaga. 

Even though the Waves (5-9, 1-4) outshot the Bulldogs (15-4, 6-0) 41.2% to 38.9%, it unfortunately wasn't enough. 

BIG WAVES 

• Sophomore Jane Nwaba (Carson, Calif./Palisades Charter HS) banked a career-high 13 points by shooting 4-for-8. She brought down three rebounds and had one blocked shot. 
• Freshman Ally Stedman (Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle HS) collected 10 points by shooting 5-for-10.
• Senior Cheyenne Givens (Gardena, Calif./Serra HS/Los Angeles Trade-Tech) had nine points and two steals. 

GAME RECAP 

Gonzaga started the game with a nine-point scoring run, but Pepperdine answered back with eight consecutive points. The Zags then went on another five-point streak all from free throws, to extend the lead to 14-8. Becky Obinma (Menifee, Calif./Rosary Academy/Texas Christian) had a lay up that turned into a three-point play to get the Waves back within three at 14-11. Gonzaga ended the first quarter on two free throws and a jumper to increase the lead at 18-11. 

In the second quarter, the Zags went up 23-11, but after lay ups by Givens and a jump shot from Stedman, the Waves cut the margin down to eight at 25-17. Gonzaga took control and went into the break with the lead at 39-25. 

Givens hit one from long-range at the start of the third quarter to make it 39-28, but the Zags stayed in control of the game. The Waves went on a four-point scoring run, but the Bulldogs had an eight-point scoring run of their own and extended the lead at 49-32. Jayla Ruffus-Milner (North Hills, Calif./Harvard Westlake HS) scored a layup, but Gonzaga headed into the final frame still ahead at 56-34. 

Nwaba gave the Waves a six-point scoring run at the beginning of the fourth, but the Bulldogs continued to hold the lead 56-40. Pepperdine attempted a comeback with a nine-point scoring run, but it was a tad too late as the Zags held on to the 66-54 win. 

STATS 

• The Zags had 22-7 points off turnovers.
• Gonzaga out-rebounded Pepperdine by a small margin 34-32. 
• The Waves had six blocked shots compared to the Bulldogs' three.
• Gonzaga went to the free more than the Waves at 16-for-18 to 7-for-9.
• Pepperdine had 24 points in the paint. 

UP NEXT 

Pepperdine will host Portland on Saturday, Jan. 29 for an afternoon WCC matchup. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on the WCC Network.