MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball (21-12, 10-8 WCC) beat Southern Utah (19-13, 11-7 WAC), outlasting their multiple attempts at a comeback to advance to the Super 16 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament Sunday afternoon in Firestone Fieldhouse.
"I love this team," head coach
Katie Faulkner said. "We overcame a lot tonight - but that's what can happen when you're deeply committed to each other and to getting better every day. Moving on!"
The Waves advance to the third round of the WNIT, the Super 16, for just the second time ever. The only other time the program has advanced past the first round of play was seven years ago, losing to Wyoming in the Super 16.
Opening the game on a heater, Pepperdine shot .563 from the field and ended the first quarter on a 14-0 run to take a convincing lead that would fuel the remainder of the afternoon. Scoring was plentiful as six different Waves combined for 26, led by
Taija Sta. Maria who had seven, playing all but 48 seconds today. With a fourth the game gone, Pepperdine led 26-12.
Outscored in the second quarter, the Thunderbirds cut into the 14-point Pepperdine lead. Matching Southern Utah's eight made from the field, it would be the eight made free throws on the visitor's side to separate the two teams down the stretch. As Pepperdine doubled the Thunderbirds fouls 8-4 in the second quarter, multiple Waves would head to the break with two fouls, setting up foul trouble later down the line. With momentum swinging in Southern Utah's direction, half time gave Pepperdine time to reset, leading 45-38 at the break.
Holding the Thunderbirds to .364 in the third quarter, Pepperdine narrowly outscored Southern Utah as yet another game was headed to come down to crunch time. Coach Faulkner received her second technical foul on the year as the Thunderbirds were awarded a total of six free throws in the 10-minute stretch. Baskets from beyond the arc, courtesy of
Ivory Finley,
Elli Guiney, and
Bella Green kept the home team in front as the Waves held onto the 68-60 lead heading into the final quarter.
Getting into foul trouble in the fourth,
Bella Green and
Shorna Preston fouled out, as Green picked up her first technical foul on the year and the second of the afternoon for the Waves. For the first time since the first quarter, the Waves relinquished the lead with five minutes to go, trailing by two after a triple hit by the Thunderbirds. Taking the lead back with earned shots from the charity stripe, defense shined in the closing minutes, outscoring Southern Utah 11-5 to close the game out.
Earning a 85-80 victory, the Waves hit the road for the Super 16 to Vermillion, South Dakota. Pepperdine will face the Coyotes of South Dakota for a trip to the Great eight. Facing the Coyotes once this year, the Waves will look for the second win over the Summit League foes after a 73-65 victory in the Malibu Classic earlier this season. The game will be Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m. pst. It will be aired on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com
GAME NOTES
- Taija Sta. Maria led the team with 22 points, trailed closely by Meghan Fiso who has 16.
- Five Waves in total found themselves scoring double digits.
- For the first time this season, rebounds were dead even at 39, with Southern Utah doubling up Pepperdine's offensive boards 14-7.
- The Thunderbirds hit more from distance, eight compared to the Waves' six.
- In total, the game had nine lead changes and five ties as Pepperdine led for over 36 minutes.
- Elli Guiney is now five threes away from tying the single-season record in program history.
- A total of 44 fouls were called today, the most since the first game of the year at CSU Fullerton.
- The Waves are 2-0 in postseason play all-time in Malibu.
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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