NICOLE ALBERTSON
Staff Writer
The Pepperdine women’s basketball team suffered a heartbreak Saturday as it was defeated by Loyola Marymount University 63-52 during the Waves’ Homecoming weekend.
Closing out the regular-season home schedule, Head Coach Julie Rousseau was stumped by the defeat.
“I’m stumped actually,” Rousseau said. “We just did not play well.”
After the confidence-boosting win against San Diego last week, coaches and players were anticipating a successful and exciting competition with West Coast Conference rival Loyola Marymount, but, unfortunately, Pepperdine’s Senior Night was not a celebration.
Freshman Teena Wickett brought in 10 points and eight rebounds and junior Teoisha George added eight points of her own, but it was not enough to fend off the Lions.
Aside from a 7-5 lead in the first half, the Waves were never able to overcome the LMU’s strong offense. Within three minutes of Pepperdine’s only lead, Loyola turned the score around to 15-10 with 12:45 on the clock in the first half and dominated the court.
“We did not play with the same intensity that we had been for the last few games,” Rousseau said.
Senior Lauren Wenski joined sophomore Jessica Ross and junior Teoisha George as standout players, but Rousseau wishes to focus on the team as a whole and not as individuals.
“Lauren has given great senior leadership, and Jessica is a solid player that we count on daily to bring consistent efforts,” she said. “But it’s going to take each person to stand out daily. We need each player to come out and give it their all to win.”
The loss came on a day when Wenski and senior Jasmane Clarendon were honored in a halftime ceremony to recognize their achievements and contributions for their four years as Pepperdine athletes.
“It was a great reception for our seniors who have been doing a remarkable job while they were here,” Rousseau said. “It was just a great day for that and a great event.”
Despite the loss, the Waves (5-7, 12-15) have not given up on the season. With two more regular-season games left this week against Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara, the ballers are looking to come back stronger than before. Learning from their past mistakes, the women are going to work on strengthening the defense presence, which will open up the offense, Rousseau said. A more aggressive defense will allow the team to run the ball and more openly play the court.
“We are going back to the drawing board,” Rousseau said. “We want to get back on the court and prove that we are the team we think we are.”
Going back on the road this week to team up against Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara, Pepperdine is focusing on salvaging the season and bringing confidence back to its game before the WCC tournament begins.
02-22-2007
