MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine's first road trip of the year concludes with a Monday night matchup between the Waves and the hosting Boise State Broncos at 5:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. MT.
While Boise State presents the toughest on-court challenge for Pepperdine thus far, Monday night's game is an opportunity for the Waves to turn the corner after going on a two-game losing streak at Fresno State and Nevada.
Two seasons ago, the Waves took a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series against Boise State with a 56-54 win in Malibu. Pepperdine is looking for its first road win of the series; the Waves are 0-2 all-time in Boise.
GAME #6: Pepperdine at Boise State | Monday, Nov. 19 | Extra Mile Arena | Boise, Idaho | Mountain West Network | 5:30 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
If Pepperdine wants to win in the Extra Mile Arena, it will have to protect the basketball.
The Waves average 21.6 turnovers per game and have committed over 20 turnovers in the past two games. In both instances, losing the turnover battle negated winning the rebounding battle. Pepperdine has yet to be out-rebounded by a team this season.
While the Waves are still finding their identity after bringing in 10 newcomers over the offseason, several constants have stood out in the first five games of the season: Myra Gordon's ability to score (team-best 12.0 points per game), Jane Nwaba's activity on both ends of the floor (9.6 points, team-high 8.0 rebounds per game and a team-high 3.0 assists per game), and the inside presence of junior forward Maggie Vick, who started in both games on this road trip and is second on the team with 4.2 rebounds per contest.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS
Led by Boise State's most successful women's basketball coach in program history in Gordy Presnell, the Broncos were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll. Boise State went 17-16 last year, albeit while starting an all-freshman backcourt. All three — leading scorer Natalie Pasco, Dani Bayes and Billings, Mont. native Mya Hansen — are back this season, along with Mountain West Preseason Team selection and reigning MWC Defensive Player of the Year Abby Muse (7.0 points, 9.7 rebounds per game in 2022) down low.
Through their three games, Boise State has defended well, limiting teams to shooting a mere 28.7% from the field — the 12th-lowest in the nation. The Broncos also boast one of the best three-point shooting offenses in the nation, as they've connected on 41.7% of their threes, which ranks 12th in the nation.
Boise State faced little resistance in its first two games but needed a fourth-quarter comeback to pull away from UC Riverside in a 63-55 home win last Wednesday. The Broncos are 3-0 on the season, not including an exhibition win over The Master's University — Pepperdine junior guard Ella Brubaker's former school. Monday is Boise State's final home game before playing in the South Point Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. over Thanksgiving week.
The Broncos' leading scorer is the aforementioned Natalie Pasco — a sophomore guard who averages 12.0 points per game while connecting on 52% of her field goals. Pasco is also the Broncos' leading three-point shooter; she is 8-for-13 (61.5%) from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT: From here, Pepperdine will return to Malibu and regroup for a game Friday against Georgetown in Firestone Fieldhouse. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.
