FRESNO, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (6-2) won for the first time ever on the road against the Fresno State Bulldogs (5-4) by a score of 65-45 for the strongest start to a season in 19 years.
 
"This group is growing in real time," head coach Katie Faulkner said. "In every game, you can feel us take another step. We moved the ball, we rebounded together, and we defended with pride. Holding Fresno State to 45 points says a lot about our commitment to each other and what we are building."
 
Holding a team to the lowest point total since January 28, Pepperdine locked in on defense to hold the advantage in the low-scoring game for nearly the whole 40 minutes.
 
Led by Shorna Preston's second double-double of the week, the Waves collected 19 more rebounds than the Bulldogs and held them to just one bucket from distance.
 
Scoring more than Fresno State in three of the four quarters, Pepperdine controlled the game all night.
 
Opening the game on a 7-2 run, Lina Falk scored the first five of the game for the Waves with one beyond the arc and a pair of three throws. With a 8-2 swing in the other direction, the Bulldogs led 9-10 midway through the first for their sole advantage all game.
 
The Waves closed the quarter out on a 10-0 run to end the quarter behind four more from Falk and Seleh Harmon's first of five buckets on the night, and the only one in the paint. After the first quarter, Pepperdine led 19-10.
 
An even performance from both teams in the second quarter led to minimal scoring as both squads only put up nine points to end the half. Up 28-19 at the break, Falk led the team in points with nine while Preston led on boards with five.
 
Harmon fell into rhythm in the third quarter, leading Pepperdine with nine points, shooting 3-4 from distance. Taija Sta. Maria, the former Bulldog, posted the best +/- of the quarter at 9. Overall, the Waves shot .500 in the 10-minute stretch. Entering the final quarter, Pepperdine led 45-29.
 
Scoring the highest quarter total of the night, the Waves closed the game out strong with a 20-point performance in the final 10 minutes. Preston secured her double-double in the final stretch, scoring eight with three boards. Despite the Bulldogs posting their best offensive showing of the night in the final stretch as well, they would not exceed Pepperdine's third quarter total as the Waves walked away with a 65-45 victory.
 
Starting the season 6-2, Pepperdine is boasting the best record for the women's basketball program since the 2006-07 season. With the sixth trip to the Save Mart Center in the series between the two squads, the Waves cemented their first road win against the Bulldogs tonight as well.
 
Staying in Malibu the next two weeks, the Waves have nearly the full week off before welcoming CSU Los Angeles to Malibu Saturday. The game, slated to begin at 2 p.m., will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats will be available at pepperdinewaves.com
 
GAME NOTES
 

• For the second game in a row, Shorna Preston led the Waves in points with 16.
• Preston's second double-double of the week is the Waves second of the season, doubling the total of last season just eight games into the year.
• Lina Falk shot above 70 percent for the second game in a row, going 3-4 and cashing in on the only three shot.
• The Waves outrebounded the Bulldogs 49-28 for the largest margin this season. 
• Holding Fresno State to one three is the least an opponent has been allowed this year.
• 65 points is the lowest the Waves have scored in a win this season.
• Pepperdine's bench scored 22 tonight, compared to Fresno State's six.
• With 25 turnovers, it is the second-highest in a win this year.

 
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pepperdine women's basketball has made four NCAA postseason appearances in its history, having won the WCC regular-season four times and the WCC Tournament on three occasions. With six All-American selections in program history, the Waves have also seen success in the WNIT Tournament which included a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019.
 
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