Malibu, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (15-9, 6-6 WCC) convincingly defeated Washington State (5-21, 4-9 WCC) for the program's fourth win in a row, a streak that has not occurred since 2022 and the first time in conference play since the 2019-2020 season.
 
"Constant culture and persistent growth makes us really dangerous," stand-in head coach Brain Porth said. "Proud of the buy-in and defensive effort this team continues to show."
 
With just six bench, all five starters hit double digits this afternoon, the only time that has happened this season and the first time for the program since Nov. 22, 2022 against CUI.
 
Maintaining the lead all game, the Waves were trailing for a total of 46 seconds the entire afternoon. Four different Waves scored in the opening quarter with Meghan Fiso leading the pack at six, followed closely by Taija Sta. Maria and Shorna Preston who put up five apiece. After 10, Pepperdine held a 19-11 lead, scoring 10 off Cougar turnovers.
 
Lina Falk found her groove in the second, scoring a team-high 11, shooting 4-6 from the field as the Waves put up the highest quarter total of the afternoon at 23. Shooting .529 from the field with another 14 points off turnovers, Pepperdine took a comfortable 42-26 lead into the half.
 
The first bench points of the afternoon came as the second half began from Bella Green, who knocked in two baskets with two rebounds in the third. Narrowly outsourcing Washington State 19-17 to maintain the lead, Taija Sta. Maria led the team with six points and two assists, making all three shots put up down the stretch. Securing 18 in the paint, Pepperdine found ways to score when the shots from distance weren't going in, up 61-43 heading into the fourth.
 
In the only quarter the Waves were outscored, Pepperdine gave two back to Washington State as all active players saw minutes on the court. Falk led the team with six as Preston grabbed a pair of rebounds and put up four. Seeing the biggest lead of the night of 19 midway through the final 10 minutes, Pepperdine secured the fourth-straight win 78-62, avenging the first conference loss of the season to the Cougars in Pullman Dec. 28.
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Lina Falk led the team with 19 points.
• Shorna Preston secured her sixth double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 boards.
• Pepperdine narrowly outrebounded Washington State 31-30.
• The Waves scored 33 from 23 Cougar turnovers.
• Both teams hit six from distance, Washington State doing so at a better percentage (.429 compared to .316)
• Bella Green, with three rebounds this afternoon, is at a career total of 999.
• Preston had a career-high six steals against the Cougars.
• As a team, Pepperdine outshot Washington State .508 to .426.

 
Hitting the road next week, the Waves travel to LMU Thursday to try to avenge another close loss coming earlier this season. With tipoff scheduled 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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