MALIBU, Calif. — Continuing its season-opening three-game home stand, the Pepperdine women's basketball team hosts the New Mexico Lobos this Thursday at 6 p.m.
The matchup pits the Waves (1-0) — who are coming off a come-from-behind victory over UC Irvine on Tuesday — and the 1-0 Lobos, who beat Texas Southern in Albuquerque, N.M. earlier this week. Thursday's meeting is the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs. While the Waves have a slim 3-2 advantage in the all-time series lead, the Lobos arguably have the most notable victory between the two teams was the Lobos' 81-69 win over the Waves in 1999 in Pepperdine's second WNIT appearance.
Additionally, Thursday's game is Pepperdine's first of four against Mountain West opponents in the non-conference slate. The Waves will go on an MWC road trip of sorts next week against Fresno State (11/15), Nevada (11/17) and Boise State (11/20).
GAME #2: Pepperdine vs. New Mexico | Thursday, Nov. 9 | Firestone Fieldhouse | Malibu, Calif. | ESPN+ | 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
On Tuesday night, the Waves clawed back from a 16-point first-half deficit to beat UC Irvine 63-58 at home. The win was Interim Head Coach Kelsey Keizer's first victory as a Division I head coach.
A decisive 16-0 run in the third quarter and stifling team defense was the difference on opening night. As a team, Pepperdine held UC Irvine to a mere 28.6% shooting from the field — including a 6-for-22 (27.3%) clip from beyond the arc. The Waves defense also held the Anteaters to just six made field goals in the second half.
Playing in her first college basketball game in 590 days, graduate transfer Myra Gordon shattered multiple career highs against the Anteaters. The Alabama transfer scored a team-high 17 points (on 6-for-10 shooting), dished out five assists and added five steals — all of which amounted to the best game of her career thus far.
Starting at point guard in her first Division I game, Addi Melone added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win. Melone's third-quarter threes helped the Waves go on a decisive 16-0 run to retake the lead.
Additionally, senior Jane Nwaba nearly notched a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. Fellow returner KK Brodie added seven points, three steals and two blocks off the bench, plus Maggie Vick set career-highs with eight points and five rebounds.
SCOUTING THE LOBOS
Thursday will be New Mexico's first road game of the season. The Lobos, who were picked sixth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll, beat Texas Southern 76-59 on Monday night thanks to 22 points from Vianè Cumber and 20 from Nyah Wilson.
Eighth-year New Mexico head coach Mike Bradbury's squad brings back three players who saw the floor often: Viané Cumber, Paula Reus and Aniyah Augmon, with Cumber and Reus splitting time in the starting lineup. The Lobos went 21-13 last season and made the second round of the WNIT.
Syracuse transfer guard Nyah Wilson — who had double-figure scoring nights in both exhibition games and the season-opener — Mississippi State transfer center Charlotte Kohl and Odessa College guard Nahawa Diarra Berthe are New Mexico's latest additions from the transfer portal this season. Three freshmen will also make their debuts, including 2022-23 Mountain West Preseason Freshman of the Year Hannah Robbins.
In their home opener, New Mexico's starters accounted for all but two points. The Lobos offset losing the turnover battle (19 to Texas Southern's 14) by out-rebounding the Tigers 49-36 and connecting on 43.75% of their field goals while holding the Tigers to a mere 32.39% from the field.
