SPENCER OSWALD/Assistant Photo Editor
TAYLOR BIRD
Sports Assistant
The Pepperdine women’s basketball team defeated Cal State Los Angeles 90-41 Sunday afternoon at Firestone Fieldhouse — the Waves’ second exhibition victory in a row and final tune-up before regular season play begins Friday.
Senior guard Daphanie Kennedy was the team’s top scorer, contributing 22 points and seven steals in the winning effort. She shot 6-of-13 from the field and had four assists and four rebounds. She also didn’t miss a single free throw during the game, shooting 8-8 from the foul line.
The Waves as a team had a 46.9 shot percentage with 24 total steals and 44 rebounds. They held the Golden Eagles to a 31.9 shot percentage and outscored their opponent 50-14 in the second half.
Among Sunday’s other big scorers for Pepperdine were sophomore forward Miranda Ayim with 14 points, three assists and five steals and freshman guard Katie Menton with 11 points, four assists and four steals.
“The team looks like they’re gelling together pretty good,” said sophomore forward/center Teena Wickett. “We have pretty good chemistry on and off the court. I think that will just carry on into the season.”
On Oct. 31, the Waves posted a 68-46 exhibition victory over Westmont. Ayim led the team in scoring with 16 points, six blocks and six rebounds. Wickett contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds and senior center Teiosha George added 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Head Coach Julie Rousseau said that the team was a missing some regulars in the win over Westmont, but the group of players on the court in Sunday’s game was more in line with how the Waves will look during the season.
“The first exhibition game we were short-handed,” she said. “On Sunday…it was more of a balanced attack, and I think it gave us a clear picture of what we have.
I think it’s given us a chance to explore different options and see what the depth of the team really is.”
The WCC Preseason Hoops Polls released last month had Pepperdine ranked at third in its conference. Predicted to finish first and second in the conference were San Diego and Gonzaga, respectively.
Rousseau, however, sees each opponent as a legitimate threat.
“We want to set a standard,” she said. “We respect every opponent that we play. If I had to say who our toughest opponent is, it’s ourselves.”
Kennedy and Wickett both made the coaches’ choices list for top six players in the WCC. During the 2006-2007 season, Kennedy averaged 10.7 points per game and Wickett averaged 10.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
The Waves will return all of their starters from last season while introducing three recruits, sophomore post Taylor Snider and freshmen guards Menton and Joy Lelo, to the roster.
Wickett says the team’s biggest objective this year is to stay healthy, as several key players suffered injuries during the course of the 06-07 season, including Kennedy who missed seven games with a head injury.
In March, Rousseau was awarded a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2011-2012 season. In three seasons as Waves’ Head Coach, Rousseau has a 40-51 overall record and is 21-21 in conference play. In 2006, she led Pepperdine to the WCC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Waves will open the 2007-2008 season at home tomorrow versus Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m. before traveling to Iowa State Sunday. Conference play begins Thursday, Jan. 10 at Gonzaga.
11-08-2007
