Pepperdine Women’s Basketball came back from 14 points against California State University, Fullerton to win 59-57 and improve to 1-0 on the season.
Head Coach Katie Faulkner was proud of the girls for the win, but knows there is plenty to work on going forward.
“I’d like not to go down 14 next time,” Faulkner said. “There’s always things the film will show us, you know where we need improvement defensively.”
The game started off slow for both teams, with the Waves scoring eight points in the first quarter compared to the Titan’s 10.
Both teams combined for nine fouls and 13 turnovers in the first quarter along with only two total points scored in the final three minutes of the quarter.
“If we’re able to keep the momentum up the whole game, then there will be no if, ands or buts about losing,” senior guard Addi Melone said. “I think staying consistent no matter who subs in is important.”
The Titans pulled ahead in the second quarter, scoring 17 points to take a 27-20 lead by halftime.
The second quarter was another slow one for the Waves, shooting 20% from free throw and 40% from the field, according to Pepperdine Athletics.
The Titans came out blazing in the third, taking a 41-27 lead in the first five minutes but the Waves quickly responded and cut the lead to six by the end of the quarter with a score down 40-46.
“We had to tighten up our defense and just get defensive stops,” graduate guard Ornela Muca said. “After the first half, we were more composed and we were able to run out sets.”
Muca scored 10 points in total, eight of which came in the second half including two key baskets to cut the lead down late in the third and early in the fourth.
The Titans kept the Waves at bay for the first part of the fourth quarter, going up 52-44 but they committed two fouls to flip the momentum.
The Waves took advantage of the Titans’ mistakes and cut the lead down to six with less than five minutes to go.
“We do situations where we’re down in practice,” Melone said. “We talked about when we were down, but we never gave up.”
Muca made a three to put the game within two with three minutes to go and followed quickly with a steal to push it down the court.
The Waves tied the game in the final two minutes with a clutch layup by Megan Harkey, a senior forward and Graphic sports staff writer.
“The group did a great job of holding it together and running things,” Faulkner said. “Gosh, and just hitting big shots.”
Graduate guard Ella Brubaker made a layup to take the lead 59-57 with 19 seconds after a costly missed shot by the Titans.
The Titans missed their final shot with two seconds left on the clock and the Waves were able to get the rebound and secure the victory.
Harkey, Brubaker and Muca all led the team in points with 10 each, while Harkey, Brubaker and Melone led the team in rebounds with five each.
The Waves shot 47% from the field and 79% from the line compared to the Titans 36% from the field and 44% from the line.
The Waves’ next game is against the University of California, Los Angeles on Nov. 12 at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
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Email Shane Stephens: shane.stephens@pepperdine.edu
