After a week of waiting, the Waves get news that they would be a No. 12 seed, and travel south to take on Louisiana Tech.
By Hailey Amato
Staff Writer
They held their breaths, crossed their fingers and laughed. When the Pepperdine women’s basketball team’s seed for the NCAA Tournament was announced Sunday, the Waves were so surprised, all they could do was laugh in amazement and frustration. Former Olympic basketball coach Nel Fortner revealed on ESPN that Pepperdine would be traveling across the country to battle Louisiana Tech in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Louisiana is the No. 6-ranked team in the nation, not exactly an easy opponent to face in the first round.
“Our goal since the beginning was a NCAA win,” Assistant Coach Derek Wynn said. “It’s a tough draw, but there are 250 teams who have already ended their seasons. We’re thankful for a chance to be in the NCAA tournament and show what kind of team we have.”
Even if it means playing in Ruston, La. Hardly a dot on the map, this little town will see some big action when the Waves face the No. 5-seeded Techsters on their home court.
“I want to win,” sophomore guard Shanell Law said. “We expect to go out, play hard and represent Pepperdine well.”
In their third NCAA appearance in three years, the Waves were given the No. 12 seed in the West bracket, lower than the coaches and team expected. The seeding, determined by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, is based upon a team’s win-loss record, the difficulty of their schedule and the rating percentage index.
“I was surprised,” Law said. “I thought we’d get a better seed and I didn’t think we’d get sent all the way to Louisiana either. I was really caught off guard.”
The Waves won 14 of their last 16 meetings and hold a 22-7 record for the season. They captured the regular season West Coast Conference championship as well as the WCC tournament title. They beat out Santa Clara 69-57 in the championship game March 8 in San Diego.
Louisiana Tech’s No. 5 seed is also much lower than predicted.
“There is no rhyme or reason to what the committee does,” Head Coach Mark Trakh said. “There is no justification for Louisiana to pick up the No. 5 seed with a record like they have. Anyone watching a tape of them can see they are a better team than a No. 5 seed suggests. You just have to resign to the fact that your team will go anywhere they’re sent and play anyone they’re assigned. We got sent to Rustin and that’s fine.”
With only two losses this season, Louisiana’s ball club boasts the longest winning streak in the nation with 27-straight NCAA victories.
“They may be the toughest No. 5 in the history of women’s basketball,” Derek Wynn said.
They demolished all other teams in conference play, going 18-0.
Louisiana is currently one of the premiere programs in women’s college basketball and has many strengths that will challenge the Waves.
“They are a big, athletic team,” Trakh said. “They get up and down the court well and they’ll definitely do it in front of their 10,000 fans. We have our work cut out for us, but we’ve faced adversity all year long. We’re ready to go and be competitive.”
Louisiana depends on their strong post play as well as rebounding skills to defeat its rivals.
Senior forward Cheryl Ford, daughter of NBA great Karl Malone, averages 15.5 points a game and grabs an impressive 12.8 rebounds for the Techsters. Junior forward Trina Frierson will also be a challenge for the Wave’s defense with an average of 14.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds.
“I know they’re a good team, but I’m very optimistic,” Law said. “March is full of upsets.”
Her teammates agree.
“They’re beatable,” sophomore Kelli Spencer said, “Our team can play with any guards in the country.”
Pepperdine will rely on contributions from all nine players. Five players average between 8.8 and 9.9 rebounds a contest. Junior forward Nicole Funn and Law both score an average 9.9 baskets per game.
“I think we have a stronger team this year,” Law said. “Everyone can score. We’ve already seen that all season. We need to step up and lead this team this weekend.”
The team says they hope they can be the Cinderella story Sunday, taking out the top-ranked Louisiana on their own court. The screaming Techster fans will be a distraction that the Waves say they must overcome.
“Unfortunately NCAA basketball holds sites on home floors for attendance purposes,” Assistant Coach Jody Wynn said. “Hopefully in the near future that will change and we’ll play at neutral sites. We have nothing to lose and they have all the pressure on them. It’s important for us to remember that anything can happen in the NCAA tournament.”
Tip-off between the Waves and Techsters will be at 6:30. The game will be covered on ESPN 2 and broadcast live on the Internet via the Pepperdine Athletics Web Site.
“I expect my team to give 110 percent,” Jody Wynn said. “They have to leave everything on the floor and play with the heart, the passion and the togetherness they have all season. It’s time to step up to an even higher level of basketball.”
March 20, 2003