MALIBU, Calif. – The Pepperdine women's basketball team fell short, 56-51, to Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday night in Firestone Fieldhouse.
 
The Waves (2-5) tried to make a comeback in the fourth quarter on a 10-point scoring run, but were unable to secure the win over the Mavericks (4-3). Through four quarters, the lead changed three times and the two teams were also tied three times.
 
BIG WAVES

• Graduate forward Theresa Grace Mbanefo (Otsego, Minn./Blaine HS/Cornell) double-dipped with 20 points,10 boards and a block. This was Mbanefo's first double-double in a Waves uniform.
• Sophomore guard Ally Stedman (Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle HS) fell into form with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Graduate point guard Marly Walls (Bardstown, Ky./Nelson County HS/Bucknell) was second on the team in rebounds with nine and tacked on seven points. 

GAME RECAP
 
In the first quarter, the Waves and Mavericks traded baskets before Pepperdine went on a six-point scoring run to take an 8-2 lead. Following buckets by each team, Nebraska-Omaha scored five straight to tie the game at 10 each, but the Waves drained a three and a layup to earn a 15-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Mavericks made the first jumper of the second quarter, though the Waves answered with back-to-back shots to bring the advantage to a seven-point differential, 19-12. Nebraska-Omaha put up a layup and made two free throws to get within three at 23-20. Pepperdine then made two free throws, but Nebraska-Omaha earned two more free throws to head into half only down by three, 25-22.
 
Following the half, Pepperdine increased the lead back to five at 25-22 after a Meaali'i Amosa (Garden Grove, Calif./Mater Dei HS) layup. Nebraska-Omaha started to heat up and went on an eight-point scoring run to take the lead for the first time at 34-29. Mbanefo then scored five points to close the gap to one at 36-35. Seven consecutive points for the Mavericks gave them an eight-point advantage at 43-35. Stedman made two free throws at the end of the third quarter to get the score at 43-37.
 
In the final frame, Pepperdine and Nebraska-Omaha exchanged layups, although the Mavericks upped the lead at 49-40. The Waves started to make a comeback on a 10-point scoring run to regain the lead 50-49, but another five straight for the Mavericks gave them a four-point advantage. Nebraska-Omaha was fouled with less than 10 seconds to go and made two free throws to finish with the win.
 
STATS

• The Waves out-shot the Mavericks 35% overall, compared to the opposition's 33%.
• Nebraska-Omaha forced 28 Pepperdine turnovers.
• Despite the Mavericks' size advantage inside, the Waves won the paint, going for 28 points (Omaha scored 26) and four blocks in comparison to the Mavericks' one.
• Pepperdine out-rebounded Nebraska-Omaha 51 to 27.

UP NEXT
 
The Waves will stay in Malibu and host Portland State on Saturday, December 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on the WCC Network.