It was Senior Day and the last home game of the season for Pepperdine’s women’s basketball team Saturday afternoon at the Firestone Fieldhouse and the Waves came out with an intensity that all Pepperdine fans hope to see in the postseason that is fast approaching. The Waves (14-11 7-4) currently tied for third in the WCC took on the first-place Gonzaga Bulldogs (22-5 10-1) for the second time this season and it was a completely different matchup with the Waves defeating Gonzaga 72-62. Their first appearance against the Bulldogs was somewhat shaky and resulted in a disappointing 66-43 loss for Pepperdine. Senior guard Nakeya Isabell got things going early for the Waves in their first offensive possession with a shot from behind the arc. Isabell followed this shot with a steal in the backcourt during the Bulldogs first offensive possession allowing senior forward Alisha Bryant a two-point basket. This put the Waves up by five 1:30 into the game. Gonzaga got on the board with 17:30 left in the first half with a baseline jump shot and it was back and forth scoring for the rest of the half. Tough zone defense let to multiple fast-break opportunities for the Waves. Their dominant rebounding and presence in the paint combined with eight steals in the first half allowed the Waves to increase their lead to seven with 13:50 left in the first half. Isabell ranked tenth in the nation in steals contributed to the Waves third in the nation steals ranking with four steals of her own. Freshman guard Jazmine Jackson also assisted with two steals. Gonzaga was able to bring the game within three after two three-pointers by Gonzaga’s freshman forward Kayla Standish. The Waves followed these with multiple well-executed half-court possessions stopping any chance the Bulldogs had at taking the lead. The teams traded baskets for most of the first half creating a small point differential for most of the majority of it. Two free throws by Jackson put the Waves up by 10 two seconds before the halftime buzzer sounded and sent the Waves to the locker room. At the half the Waves were shooting an impressive 60 percent from behind the arc and 40 percent from the floor. The second half was a similar story of traded baskets. A 5-0 run by the Bulldogs 4:00 into the half brought them back within five but the Waves continued to rack up steals and hold the Bulldogs. Freshman center Alex Jarrell not normally recognized for her three point shooting ability had three successful three pointers throughout the game. One of these shots that she made with 12:33 left in the game sparked a 9-0 scoring run for the Waves putting them up by a comfortable 12 points more than halfway into the second also marking their largest lead of the game. Pepperdine was forced to call a timeout when their lead quickly closed to three after two Gonzaga steals. Junior Center Miranda Ayim brought the lead back to five with a jumpshot and Isabell followed in the next possession with a three pointer that extended the Waves lead to eight 63-55 with 3:19 left to play.
Helped by the team’s suffocating defense Ayim went on an individual 4-0 run and put the Waves up by 10 with 2:02 left. Gonzaga who resorted to intentional fouling in the final two minutes of the game was never able to close the 10-point lead held by the Waves.
At games end the Waves were up 72-62 over No. -1 Gonzaga.
The Waves next game is Thursday night against Saint Mary’s currently ranked sixth in the conference at the McKeon Pavilion.