LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Pepperdine women's basketball team met the San Diego Toreros for the third time this season in the opening round of the West Coast Conference tournament, falling in the Orleans arena.
 
The Waves could not overcome a slow start, coming as close as within four at the break, but never taking the lead after the opening minutes in the 59-66 loss.   
 
BIG WAVES
 
Freshman Chloe Sotell (Samford, Conn.) had a double-digit performance for the 16th time this season, leading her team with 20 points and four assists.
 
Senior Emerita Mashaire (Helsinski, Finland) was the other Wave in double digits with 12 points and a team-high five rebounds.
 
KEY STATS
 
An explosive second quarter by Pepperdine led to the most points by either team in a quarter with 22.
 
The Waves were the aggressor on defensive with eight steals, compared to just five for the Toreros.
 
Taking better care of the ball, Pepperdine had just nine turnovers compared to San Diego's 15.
 
RECAP
 
Pepperdine was put in a hole early, scoring just six in the opening 10 minutes. Sotell and senior Maggie Vick (Morristown, Tenn.) had a pair of baskets to give the Waves a 4-0 lead but for the remainder of the quarter, momentum swung in favor of the Toreros. A 16-0 San Diego run was cut with a basket by senior Makena Mastora (Alameda, Calif.) as the Waves trailed 16-6 after the first quarter.  
 
Shooting .500 from the field in the second, shots were starting to fall in Pepperdine's favor. Mashaire and senior Ornela Muca (Athens, Greece) led the team with seven apiece in the quarter. The first three of the game for the Waves with 4:07 left in the quarter sparked a 12-0 run for Pepperdine and headed into half, what once seemed like a daunting deficit was now a four-point game. At the break, the Toreros held a narrow 28-32 lead.
 
The offense was tough to get reignited coming out of the break and despite five points from the freshman in the third, Pepperdine would only score 11 in the quarter. Sotell scored a three to keep the Waves in striking distance, down 39-48 with one quarter to go.
 
Fluctuating within three, San Diego held Pepperdine to a nine-point deficit for the majority of the fourth and final quarter. Despite outscoring the Toreros 20-18 in the quarter, led by Sotell with seven points, the Waves ran out of gas, falling 59-66.
 
Pepperdine finishes the season 8-22 with a 3-18 WCC record.