SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pepperdine women's basketball team was unable to hold on against #17/20 Gonzaga and fell 67-49 in the McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Waves (7-14, 2-9) started hot and took a 28-24 lead over the Bulldogs (21-2, 11-0) heading into halftime, but a 26-point third quarter for Gonzaga put them on top. Pepperdine out-rebound Gonzaga 43-35.
 
BIG WAVES

• Sophomore guard Ally Stedman (Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle HS) led the team with 17 points. She also had two rebounds.
• Redshirt senior forward Becky Obinma (Menifee, Calif./Rosary Academy/TCU) had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, which also tied her season-high in both categories. Obinma also had one steal.
• Graduate forward Theresa Grace Mbanefo (Otesgo, Minn./Blaine HS/Cornell) collected seven points and brought down seven rebounds.

GAME RECAP
 
The Waves started the game on a 4-0 scoring run thanks to an Obinma layup and two free throws by Jane Nwaba (Carson, Calif./Palisades Charter HS), though Gonzaga tied the game up with four straight points. Pepperdine had an eight-point run to extend the advantage by nine at 15-6. The Bulldogs made the last shot on a layup to cut the deficit to seven heading into the second quarter.
 
In the second, the Waves and Zags went back and forth with jumpers and free throws, before Gonzaga went on an eight-point scoring run to cut the Waves lead to two, 21-19. In the final thirty seconds of play, Stedman drained a three-pointer and made it 28-23. The Zags made one free throw before to cut the lead to four going into the break.
 
After the half, the Waves and Zags each put up a basket before the Bulldogs had an eight-point run to take the lead 34-30 for the first time. Mbanefo sank a layup and earned a free throw to get the Waves back within one, but another eight consecutive points for the Zags put them on top 42-33. Stedman hit back-to-back jump shots to make it 42-27. Brynna Maxwell of Gonzaga made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Bulldogs a 50-38 lead before the final quarter.
 
Stedman drained a jump shot in the beginning of the fourth quarter. After Pepperdine and Gonzaga exchanged baskets, the Zags made three free throws to extend the lead to 60-43. In the final minute of play, Obinma made a free throw to make the score 65-49, but the Zags went to the line and made two free throws and held onto the win.
 
STATS

• Gonzaga out-shot Pepperdine 37.0% compared to 29.3%.
• The Bulldogs forced 20 Pepperdine turnovers. 

UP NEXT
 
The Waves will be back home for a two-game homestand starting on Thursday, Feb. 2 hosting Saint Mary's. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the WCC Network.