MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (10-5, 1-2 WCC) outlasted Saint Mary's (9-7, 0-3 WCC) 60-52 Friday night in Firestone Fieldhouse for the first win of the conference slate, and first win of the new year.
 
"We knew we had to stay locked in as a unit to win that game," head coach Katie Faulkner said. "I am proud of the way we grinded in our third game in a week."
 
Leading the entire game, Pepperdine was in control of the game from tipoff. Defense shined in the first quarter, allowing Saint Mary's just four points in the 10-minute stretch. Elli Guiney hit her first three of the night in the first to lead the Waves with seven points early. With a quarter of the game gone, Pepperdine held a 13-4 lead.
 
The Gaels found their offensive groove in the second quarter, matching the Waves' 15 points before the half. Shooting .286 from the field compared to Saint Mary's' .462, the nine point lead from the first quarter held steady as Pepperdine had the 28-19 advantage headed to the locker room.
 
In the most productive offensive stretch for the Waves, a 19-point third quarter would see the home team leading by as much as 13, the largest lead of the night. With just one from distance, Pepperdine was getting it done in the paint. Lina Falk led the team with seven points, collecting three rebounds to keep pace with Shorna Preston in the quarter, who secured her fifth double-double of the season.
 
Closing out the game, the Waves had to endure one final push for the lead from the visiting Gaels. Diminishing the lead to as little as four, Pepperdine focused on one possession at a time, running the clock down with a critical layup by Preston to help ice the game. Victorious in Malibu, the Waves open the new year with a 60-52 victory for the first win in conference play.
 
After a six day break, the Waves are back in action Thursday night in Malibu to take on the Lions of LMU. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. and the first fans in attendance will be given a pink Malibu shirt to celebrate Malibu Pink Night. The game will stream on ESPN+ (subscription required) and live stats available at pepperdinewaves.com.
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Meghan Fiso and Shorna Preston led the Waves tonight with 14 points apiece.
• Preston secured her fifth double-double of the year with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
• 60 points is the lowest Pepperdine has scored in a win since Jan. 28 last year in a 55-43 win over LMU.
• The Waves outrebounded the Gaels 40-34.
• Bella Green was a perfect 3-3 from the field with seven points on the night.
• Five from beyond the arc is the lowest for the Waves in a win all season.
• With 10 wins, it is Pepperdine's first season with double-digit wins in three seasons.
• Saint Mary's bench outscored the Waves 28-10.

 
 
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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