VERMILLION, South Dakota  – Pepperdine women's basketball (21-13, 10-8 WCC) hung with South Dakota the entire game, but could not overcome the opening six minutes in the 73-57 loss in the Super 16 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament to end the 2025-26 season.
 
"I love this team," head coach Katie Faulkner said. "For everything on and off the court this year, I am proud of what we were able to accomplish."
 
Opening the game against a 14-0 South Dakota run, the Waves would be working at a deficit for the entire game. In the only quarter the home team would outscore Pepperdine, the Coyotes opened the game lights out. What started as a rough offensive night for both teams with zero points through the first three minutes turned into South Dakota hitting 6-7 from deep, outscoring the Waves 32-9 as the visitors shot just .267 from the field, including .167 from distance.
 
The two teams split 38 points down the middle in the second with 19 a piece. Ivory Finley led the team with five, followed closely by Taija Sta. Maria and Bella Green who both had four as Pepperdine spread the scoring throughout the roster. The Waves matched the Coyotes three from deep to keep pace, down the first-quarter difference 28-51 at half.
 
With the best defensive showing of the night in the third quarter, Pepperdine held the home team to just nine points in the 10-minute stretch. Elli Guiney led the team with five as the Waves could not make up the deficit on the offensive side of the ball. Despite outscoring South Dakota, Pepperdine was running out of time, down 41-60 with one quarter to go.
 
Once again outsourcing the Coyotes in the fourth, the Waves proved tough to the finish. Irune Orio led the Waves with seven in the quarter, followed by Guiney who tacked on six. Outpacing the home team, Pepperdine simply ran out of time, falling 73-57 to end the season 21-13, tying the longest postseason run in program history. 
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Elli Guiney was the only Wave in double digits tonight, leading the team with 16.
• Irune Orio scored nine tonight, the second most on the team and the most for the senior this season.
• Shorna Preston led the team in boards with five.
• Pepperdine hit seven from three, compared to South Dakota's 11.
• Taija Sta. Maria had five of the team's nine assists tonight.
• The Waves were outrebounded 28-22 tonight.
• Pepperdine had 14 turnovers, in comparison to South Dakota's 11.
• 21 wins is the most since the 2018-19 season and just the second 21+ win season since 2003.
• Guiney finished the year with 72 threes, second all-time by a Wave in a single season.
• Katie Faulkner is just the third coach in program history to have her second season result in 20+ wins, with her +13 game differential tying for best ever.

 
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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