Saturday, December 16
Bakersfield, Calif.
1:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
CSU Bakersfield
Photo by: Jeff Golden
Waves Take Final Non-Conference Road Trip to Cal State Bakersfield
12/14/2023 11:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MALIBU, Calif. — Coming off a week-long break for final exams, the Pepperdine women's basketball team takes its final non-conference road trip to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tip-off is 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Both teams are looking to snap out of their slumps on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield has been on the road since Nov. 18 and has dropped the last three games. Pepperdine is looking to end a seven-game losing streak.
In the all-time series, Pepperdine leads 6-1 and has won the last six meetings, including an 80-53 home win last season. Last year, five Waves finished in double-figures, including Jane Nwaba (13 points) and Helena Friend, who chipped in 10 points off the bench. The Waves' 80 points were the most the team scored in a win that season.
GAME #11: Pepperdine at Cal State Bakersfield | Saturday, Dec. 16 | Icardo Center | Bakersfield, Calif. | ESPN+ | 1 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
In the Waves' last game against California Baptist, the Waves took one of college basketball's 18 remaining unbeaten teams down to the wire in a 60-57 home loss on Dec. 9.
Three Waves finished in double-figures: Junior guard Ella Brubaker led the Waves in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with 13 points and a season-high three blocks in her first Division I start. Freshman forward Jorynn Ross — who has given the Waves a spark off the bench as of late — chipped in a career-high 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block in the CBU loss. Not to be overlooked, senior Jane Nwaba recorded her second double-double of the season against CBU with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Nwaba, who ranks seventh in the conference with 7.2 rebounds per game, has four games with 10 or more rebounds on the year.
As a team, Pepperdine's defense is still one the best units in the West Coast Conference, as opposing teams connect on a mere 24.0% of their three-point attempts (top in the WCC), 37.7% of their field goals (2nd-WCC) and score 61.9 points per game (2nd-WCC). The Waves also rank third in the conference with 4.60 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
Cal State Bakersfield is coming off a 10-day break since its last game: an 87-66 loss at Boise State on Dec. 6. Along with Boise State, the Roadrunners and Waves share another common opponent in Fresno State, which the Roadrunners beat 65-63 at home on Nov. 18.
Although Cal State Bakersfield returns only two starters from last year's meeting, redshirt junior Shaune Brown (15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds per game) has led the way for the 'Runners. She has finished in double-figures in the past four games — including two straight 20-point outings against Omaha and Boise State. Grad transfer guard Jordan Olivares — who helped Sacramento State make its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022-23 — has been a welcome addition for the 'Runners, averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game despite being listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall.
UP NEXT: From here, Pepperdine will return to Malibu for two more home non-conference games: First against NAU — the defending Big Sky Champions — on Monday, Dec. 18, then against Cal State LA on Dec. 29. Attendance is free for Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff with a valid Pepperdine ID; tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com.
Both teams are looking to snap out of their slumps on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield has been on the road since Nov. 18 and has dropped the last three games. Pepperdine is looking to end a seven-game losing streak.
In the all-time series, Pepperdine leads 6-1 and has won the last six meetings, including an 80-53 home win last season. Last year, five Waves finished in double-figures, including Jane Nwaba (13 points) and Helena Friend, who chipped in 10 points off the bench. The Waves' 80 points were the most the team scored in a win that season.
GAME #11: Pepperdine at Cal State Bakersfield | Saturday, Dec. 16 | Icardo Center | Bakersfield, Calif. | ESPN+ | 1 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
In the Waves' last game against California Baptist, the Waves took one of college basketball's 18 remaining unbeaten teams down to the wire in a 60-57 home loss on Dec. 9.
Three Waves finished in double-figures: Junior guard Ella Brubaker led the Waves in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with 13 points and a season-high three blocks in her first Division I start. Freshman forward Jorynn Ross — who has given the Waves a spark off the bench as of late — chipped in a career-high 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block in the CBU loss. Not to be overlooked, senior Jane Nwaba recorded her second double-double of the season against CBU with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Nwaba, who ranks seventh in the conference with 7.2 rebounds per game, has four games with 10 or more rebounds on the year.
As a team, Pepperdine's defense is still one the best units in the West Coast Conference, as opposing teams connect on a mere 24.0% of their three-point attempts (top in the WCC), 37.7% of their field goals (2nd-WCC) and score 61.9 points per game (2nd-WCC). The Waves also rank third in the conference with 4.60 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS
Cal State Bakersfield is coming off a 10-day break since its last game: an 87-66 loss at Boise State on Dec. 6. Along with Boise State, the Roadrunners and Waves share another common opponent in Fresno State, which the Roadrunners beat 65-63 at home on Nov. 18.
Although Cal State Bakersfield returns only two starters from last year's meeting, redshirt junior Shaune Brown (15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds per game) has led the way for the 'Runners. She has finished in double-figures in the past four games — including two straight 20-point outings against Omaha and Boise State. Grad transfer guard Jordan Olivares — who helped Sacramento State make its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022-23 — has been a welcome addition for the 'Runners, averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game despite being listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall.
UP NEXT: From here, Pepperdine will return to Malibu for two more home non-conference games: First against NAU — the defending Big Sky Champions — on Monday, Dec. 18, then against Cal State LA on Dec. 29. Attendance is free for Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff with a valid Pepperdine ID; tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com.
Players Mentioned
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