FULLERTON, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (0-0) opens up the 2025-26 campaign against CSU Fullerton (0-0) Tuesday night at the Titan Gym.
"I believe that this team is a team that will compete in every game," Head Coach
Katie Faulkner said. "We've got a devoted group of people who are dedicated to getting better."
- The Waves opened against CSU Fullerton last season, resulting in a thrilling 59-57 win in Firestone FIeldhouse.
- Pepperdine last opened a season on the road in 2022 against UNLV.
GAME NOTES
- Being just one of two teams at the DI level without a single player returning for the 2025-26 season, Coach Faulkner and her staff hit the transfer portal to build a team from scratch.
- Four freshmen are joined by eight transfers to make up the squad of 12.
- Six transfers come from Division one schools with a DII guard as well as a forward from a junior college in Dodge City, Kan.
- Of the 12 new players in Malibu, three come from different regions of Australia.
- Bella Green, Zoe Shanahan, and Shorna Preston are the three representing the land down under for the Waves this season.
- As one true freshman and two transfers,the trio of Waves will log their first DI minutes this season with Pepperdine as Green comes to Malibu from West Florida and Preston comes off a title run with Dodge City Community College.
- Outside of the United States, the Waves represent five different countries in Canada, Romania, Germany, Australia, and Spain.
- Irune Orio, a transfer from Xavier, is the Spanish representative while Ilinca Belegante comes from Romania. Lina Falk is the sole German and Taija St. Maria represents the north as the Canadian on the Waves.
- The three Australians all come from different areas with one from Perth, one from Melbourne, and the final from the Gold Coast.
- The Waves currently have one AP Top-25 team slated with a game at #18 USC Nov. 28.
- Two trips highlight the Waves' non-conference with a trip up to Utah Valley as well as a short flight to Flagstaff, Ariz. to face Northern Arizona.
SERIES HISTORY
- In 26 matches against the Titans, the Waves hold a 15-11 advantage, including a 6-5 record on the road.
- The latest matchup between the two squads was last season, where Pepperdine won in a 59-57 thriller in Malibu.
- Pepperdine has not won on the road since the 2016-17 season, in a 69-58 win.
- In the last 10 matchups, Pepperdine holds the 7-3 edge.
SCOUTING THE TITANS
- Opening the season against Pepperdine, Fullerton has one published exhibition game against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps where they won 91-53.
- Under a new head coach, this is John Bonner's first year at the helm in Fullerton.
- The Titans finished last season 7-23, including 5-15 in conference.
- Nicole Steiner and Cristina Jones led the squad in the exhibition game with 18 points a piece.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+ with stats available at
www.pepperdinewaves.com
ABOUT PEPPERDINE ATHLETICS
Pepperdine University boasts one of the most successful athletic programs in the country for a school of its size. The Waves have claimed 10 NCAA Division I team championships and 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit
here.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's soccer news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWBB.
