MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (11-7, 2-4 WCC) took down Pacific (7-10, 2-4 WCC) by a score of 71-53 Thursday night from Firestone Fieldhouse.
 
The Waves never trailed in the game and held a double-digit lead for the final 19:18 of the contest to pick up their second conference win of the campaign.
 
Lina Falk scored a career-high 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting to lead the Waves, while matching a career-best with four three-pointers made on five attempts.
 
Meghan Fiso (12 points) and Ivory Finley (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Waves, as Pepperdine's offense put them ahead early with 21 first quarter points.
 
"I love watching this team continue to evolve every day," said head coach Katie Faulkner. "We had a lot of people step up on both ends of the floor and that shows commitment to the process."

Falk set the tone to start with the first 10 points of the game for the Waves, who jumped out to a 10-5 lead following the four early baskets from the junior. Elli Guiney converted an and-one opportunity next with Fiso then notching consecutive baskets, putting the Waves ahead 17-9 less than 5:30 into the game.

Pepperdine allowed just one field goal and two points in the final five minutes of the quarter, extending out to a 21-11 lead after one. Falk posted 12 first quarter points as the Waves shot 8-for-17 in the opening 10 minutes.

The ten-point lead quickly became 14 as the Waves pushed the pace to start the second, with Falk and Fiso getting out on the fast break for the first two baskets of the second quarter.

The Waves continued their efficiency from the floor at 7-for-15 in the quarter, but failed to make a triple while three of Pacific's five field goals in the second frame came from downtown. A pair of free throws from Bella Green in the final minute gave the Waves a 37-26 lead at halftime.

Pepperdine had just three turnovers at the break while committing only five fouls in a clean first half of play.

A Winner Bartholomew basket to open the second half would be the last time the game was within single digits for the Tigers, as Elli Guiney answered with a hit from three and the Waves would control the remainder of the game. Bartholomew paced the Tigers with 19 points on the night, with 15 coming in the first half.
 
Ahead by 12 with 4:30 to go in the third, the Waves used a 9-0 run to push ahead by 20-plus. A Falk basket was followed by four straight points from Irune Orio, as Finley capped the run with her second three of the game. The Waves led 57-42 heading into the final quarter.

Falk caught fire again in the fourth, scoring 10 of Pepperdine's 14 points to push her career-high total to 26. She was 4-for-4 from the field in the quarter, knocking down a pair of threes as her final basket gave the Waves their largest lead at 69-47. 

Pepperdine held the Tigers to 4-for-18 shooting from the field in the final frame, earning the convincing 71-53 victory at home.
 
GAME NOTES 

• Lina Falk netted a career-high 26 points to go with three rebounds and two steals.
• Falk's effort was the fourth in the WCC this season with 25 or more points on 14 or less shot attempts.
• Meghan Fiso recorded 12 points, four rebounds and a career-high five assists.
• Fiso has scored in double figures in 10 of 18 games this season.
• Ivory Finley paced the bench scoring with 10 points while collecting three rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists.
• Elli Guiney collected a career-high seven rebounds while scoring nine points.
• Irune Orio added six points, three assists and two rebounds off the bench.
• Bella Green recorded four points, three rebounds and three assists.
• Pepperdine's seven turnovers marked a new season-low.
• The Waves held the Tigers to 3-for-17 shooting from distance.
• Pepperdine assisted on 18 of 27 field goals.

The Waves return home Saturday to take on Oregon State at 2 p.m. from Firestone Fieldhouse.

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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