MALIBU, Calif. — The second iteration of the PCH Cup takes place between the Pepperdine women's basketball team and the LMU Lions in Gersten Pavilion on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Pepperdine is looking to even the season series with LMU, which beat the Waves in Malibu earlier this month, 64-50. LMU is Pepperdine's first repeat opponent in West Coast Conference play this season.
The Waves are looking to steer out of a five-game losing skid, dating back to the first edition of the PCH Cup on Jan. 4. The Waves have a 60-34 lead in the all-time series, yet Pepperdine has not won in Gersten Pavilion since the 2021-22 season.
GAME #20: Pepperdine at LMU | Saturday, Jan. 27 | Gersten Pavilion | Los Angeles, Calif. | ESPN+ | 2 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
During the first meeting between the two teams, LMU connected on 40% of its three-pointers — including five in a big, 23-point first quarter — to put Pepperdine behind early. Da'Ja Hamilton (13 points) and Daylee Dunn (12 points) finished in double-figures for LMU, while Alexis Mark had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Meanwhile for Pepperdine, Addi Melone and Helena Friend scored 10 points apiece, while Jorynn Ross added eight points and three blocks.
Since then, Pepperdine has gotten a lift from Friend, who has started four of the last five games and averaged 8.0 points per game in that span. Defensively, Friend has set her career-high with four steals in back-to-back games.
On Thursday, Pepperdine fell 82-49 to the defending WCC Tournament Champion Portland in the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Freshman Holly Griffiths had a career night, leading the Waves with 14 points, grabbing a career-high five rebounds and shooting 6-for-13 from the field. Friend notched back-to-back games with 11 points, plus Emerita Mashaire and Megan Harkey chipped in six points apiece.
Do-it-all guard Jane Nwaba continues to lead the Waves in several statistical categories, including points (8.8), rebounds (7.5), assists (3.1) and steals (1.4) per game. As of late, Nwaba has been Pepperdine's main distributor, averaging 5.0 assists per game over the last four contests.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Ranked sixth in the WCC standings, LMU has gone 3-4 in conference play with alternating wins and losses ever since conference play began. The Lions are coming off a 61-48 loss at San Francisco, in which LMU cut San Francisco's lead to single digits three times in the final quarter, yet couldn't break through.
The Lions have a one-game win streak at home thanks to a 67-60 win over San Diego for its first victory over the Toreros in four years.
Alexis Mark leads LMU with 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She is LMU's leading scorer, yet the Lions have six players who average more than 5.0 points per game.
UP NEXT: Pepperdine has a two-game homestand next week, starting by hosting San Francisco next Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com.
