MALIBU, California –
Becky Obinma led the Waves with a career-high 19 points as the Pepperdine women's basketball team took down Saint Mary's in overtime 70-65 on Monday night.
The Waves (6-9, 2-4) outshot the Gaels (9-10, 3-5) 40.7% to 29.2%. There were 16 lead changes and 14 times Pepperdine and Saint Mary's were tied, including the final seconds of the fourth quarter, which sent the game into overtime.
BIG WAVES
- Redshirt junior Becky Obinma (Menifee, Calif./Rosary Academy/Texas Christan) notched a new career high of 19 points by shooting 4-for-6 and was 11-for-14 at the line. She brought down 10 rebounds and had four blocked shots.
- Senior Cheyenne Givens (Gardena, Calif./Serra HS/Los Angeles Trade-Tech) had 13 points by shooting 5-for-7 and had two steals.
- Redshirt junior Eve Braslis (Newton, Victoria, Australia/Geelong College/Utah Valley) collected 11 points by shooting 5-for-7 and brought down five rebounds.
- Senior Malia Bambrick (Santa Clarita, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS) banked 10 points and had two steals.
GAME RECAP
The Waves had the first bucket of the game thanks to a Bambrick jumper, but the Gaels went on a seven-point scoring run to take the lead 7-2. Saint Mary's had another four consecutive points to make it 11-3, but Pepperdine answered back with a six-point scoring run to end the first quarter only down by two at 11-9.
Jayla Ruffus-Milner (North Hills, Calif./Harvard Westlake HS) tied the game right at the start of the second quarter, 11-11. Back-and-forth shots evened the score across the board until the Gaels had four consecutive points to take the lead again at 20-18. The Waves had another six-point scoring run to get the lead at 24-20. Saint Mary's tied the game up at 24-24, and after back-to-back shots from Bambrick, the Waves went into the half with a one-point lead at 28-27.
In the third quarter, Saint Mary's took the lead back at 29-28, but thanks to Obinma the Waves went up again 31-30. The Gaels had four consecutive points to get the lead 37-36, but three straight free throws from Givens and Jane Nwaba (Carson, Calif./Palisades Charter HS) gave the Waves the lead again at 39-37. Saint Mary's went on a five-point scoring run to close out the third quarter at 42-39.
After another back-and-forth start of the fourth quarter, Saint Mary's extended the lead at 46-42. Braslis later hit one from long-range to give Pepperdine back the lead at 53-51. In the final minute, the Gaels hit a three-point basket to get the lead back at 57-55. Obinma tied the game twice in the final 20 seconds, first with two free throws and then with a lay-up, sending the game to overtime tied at 59.
In overtime, Obinma made three free throws to give the Waves a 62-59 lead. The Gaels had a jumper and two free throws to get back within two at 65-63. Pepperdine closed out the game on two free throws from Kendyl Carson (Juneau, Alaska/Juneau Douglas HS). All 11 of Pepperdine's points in overtime came via the free throw line, seven of them by Obinma.
STATS
- The Gaels out-rebounded the Waves 49-42.
- Saint Mary's forced 21 turnovers compared to Pepperdine's 19.
- The Waves had 18 points off of turnovers compared to the Gaels' nine points.
- Although SMC grabbed 23 offensive rebounds, the Waves limited the Gaels to nine second-chance points.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach
Kristen Dowling:
Redshirt junior
Becky Obinma:
HIGHLIGHTS
UP NEXT
The Waves will travel down Pacific Coast Highway to visit rival Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Feb. 3. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on the WCC Network.
