MALIBU, Calif.  – Pepperdine women's basketball (17-11, 8-8 WCC) got the 80-63 win over Santa Clara (21-8, 11-5 WCC) Saturday afternoon, sweeping the two-game regular season series against the Broncos for the first time in three years.
 
"You could tell from the beginning of the game we were so focused on the mission and we wouldn't be denied," head coach Katie Faulkner said. "Encouraged by the love and joy we played with, and who this team is becoming."
 
Holding Santa Clara to their third lowest offensive output of the season, including the lowest in conference play, Pepperdine was locked in on defense from the jump. A monster 28 points in the first quarter built the Waves' confidence for the remainder of the game. Seven different Waves scored, with four different Waves draining one from distance. Lina Falk led the way with seven, followed closely by Elli Guiney and Seleh Harmon, who had five a piece. At the end of one, the Waves held a 28-17 advantage.
 
Narrowly outscored in the second, the offense settled into a groove. After a 6-0 scoring run at the beginning of the quarter, the Waves got a majority of their buckets in the paint to close the first half. Meghan Fiso led the team with four points as Pepperdine led 45-36 at the break.
 
Coming out of the half swinging, Pepperdine was determined to take back any momentum that might have been lost in the second quarter. Guiney herself scored the Bronco quarter-total of 13 down the stretch as the Waves extended their lead into double-digits. Falk and Shorna Preston were the next closest to the solo sophomore on the squad, both with four points as Pepperdine outscored Santa Clara 23-13 to take a comfortable 68-49 lead into the final quarter.
 
With Ivory Finley and Irune Orio scoring in the final quarter today, all four seniors secured at least one basket on senior day. Five different Waves scored as Pepperdine closed the game out, fending off any Santa Clara comeback attempts with stellar defense. Improving to .500 in conference play, the Waves took the victory on senior day 80-63.
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Taija Sta. Maria secured her first double-double of the year with 10 assists and 10 points.
• Elli Guiney led Pepperdine with her seventh 20+ point performance of the year with 20.
• Defensively, Shorna Preston and Lina Falk were in double digits on the boards with 11 and 10, respectively.
• Preston matched her career-high of six steals, last doing so against Washington St. 2/7/26.
• Pepperdine had the advantage the entire game.
• The Waves led by as much as 19 at the end of the third quarter, finishing the game up 17.
• Guiney shot lights out, .467 from the field, including .667 from deep.
• WIth 55 from deep this season so far, Guiney slid into fifth-all time threes in a singular season, a record set in the 2003-04 season.
• Seleh Harmon is three triples shy from cracking the top-10 record herself with 50 so far this year.
• On senior day, Meghan Fiso shot .500 all around, draining a three in the first quarter.
• All four seniors scored this afternoon.

 
Wrapping up the regular season on the road, Pepperdine travels to the Pacific North West to take on Portland before traveling across the way to play Seattle in the final regular season game of the 2025-26 season. Tipoff Thursday night against the Pilots is slated for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com
 
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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