Women's Basketball: Waves Play at USC Sunday

Pepperdine Looks For Inaugural Win vs. Women of Troy

Bria Richardson and the Waves take on USC in a Sunday matinee in the Galen Center

Nov. 16, 2012

GAME NOTES | VIDEO PREVIEW | 2012-13 PEPPERDINE ALMANAC

The Last Meeting

USC	75

Pepperdine	71	OT

December 21, 2011
Malibu, Calif.

Waves Battle in Close 75-71 Overtime Loss to USC

In the final nonconference game of the season for the Pepperdine women's basketball team, the Waves fell 75-71 in overtime to the visiting USC Trojans on Wednesday afternoon. Although the Waves had a seven point lead at the half, the Trojans got back into the game in the second half and with the score deadlocked 63-63 at the end of regulation the Waves entered their third overtime game of the season. In overtime the Waves were unable to convert and the Trojans earned the victory.

Recap | Box Score

THIS WEEK FOR THE WAVES: Pepperdine travels to the Galen Center to take on area rival USC Sunday, November 18 in Los Angeles. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in a game broadcast live on PepperdineSports.com. The Trojans dropped a 63-52 decision to Gonzaga last Sunday in their season opener.

COVERAGE: Fans that can’t make it to the Galen Center can check out the game streamed live online via WaveCasts. Gametracker will provide live statistics for all home events at the official cyberspace home for Pepperdine Athletics, PepperdineSports.com. Ismael Loya will have the call for the Waves and Trojans.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 2012-13 BULLETS

After just two games, Waves are averaging 12.5 steals per game and have forced 21.0 turnovers per contest.
Pepperdine dished 20 assists in its season-opening 83-68 win at UC Davis (11/9/12).
Waves are shooting better from 3-point range .487 (19-39) than overall from the field .443 (51-115).
In two games, Pepperdine has scored 53 points (26.5 ppg) off turnovers.
Shay Cooney-Williams had 18 assists last season in 29 games. This season the senior guard has 12 in two contests.
Ea Shoushtari has already eclipsed her 2011-12 point tally (22) in just two games, averaging 12.5 ppg. The sophomore guard played in 28 2011-12 games.
Despite losing nearly 75 percent of its scoring from a year ago, Pepperdine is averaging 77.0 points per game.

WAVES AND TROJANS

Pepperdine squares off against USC for the 19th time in program history.
The Waves are searching for their first-ever win in the series.
Pepperdine dropped a hard-fought 75-71 overtime decision last season at Firestone (12/21/11).
The first meeting between the two teams came in a 73-71 loss in Malibu (1/28/78).
The Waves have lost five one-possession games in the all-time series.

GAME THREE - AT USC: Sunday (Nov. 18) at the Galen Center, Los Angeles, Calif.: Pepperdine (1-1) at USC (0-1) at 7:00 p.m.

LAST MEETINGS: USC 75, at Pepperdine 71, ot (12/21/11); USC 69, at Pepperdine 55 (11/24/08); at USC 55, Pepperdine 52 (12/15/07)

SERIES RECORD/STREAK: USC leads 18-0/USC won 18

ON THE AIR/ON THE WEB:
Internet Audio: Yes - PepperdineSports.com (WaveCasts)
GameTracker: Yes - PepperdineSports.com
Opponent Official Website: USCTrojans.com

LAST GAME FOR USC: Gonzaga 63, at USC 52 (11/11/12)

LAST TIME VS. THE TROJANS: Pepperdine dropped a tough 75-71 overtime decision to USC last December 21 at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves built a 42-35 halftime lead, but the Women of Troy battled back in the second to force overtime. In the extra session it was all USC as it outscored the Waves 12-8. Pepperdine was crushed on the boards 52-33, 19-9 on the offensive glass. Lauren Bell scored a team-high 22 points, while Robie Mayberry added 10 points with five rebounds off the bench.

WAVES AGAINST THE PAC-12: Pepperdine owns an 11-62 overall record against current members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Waves have posted wins against all Pac-12 opponents including Stanford, but are still searching for their first wins against Cal (0-6), Colorado (0-3) and USC (0-18). Pepperdine has never played Oregon or Utah.

EARLY RETURN(ERS): Pepperdine returns just .275 of its scoring offense from the 2011-12 season. The Waves returners have already shown signs of being able to step up offensively.

After just two games, three Waves have already eclipsed their 2011-12 scoring output - Grace Leah Baughn (13-8), Bria Richardson (20-14) and Ea Shoushtari (25-22).
Returning Waves account for .916 of the total offense so far (141 points), averaging 70.5 points per game.
With 40 points in her first two games, Robie Mayberry needs just 35 points to match her 2011-12 season tally in 17 contests.

LAST WEEK FOR THE WAVES: Pepperdine collected a split in the opening weekend of the 2012-13 season. The Waves turned in an impressive 83-68 road victory at UC Davis (11/9/12) in the season opener, before falling to UC Riverside 79-71 in their home opener on Monday.

UC RIVERSIDE RECAP: Pepperdine roared back from a 22-point second half deficit, but could not pull off the miracle comeback, dropping a 79-71 decision to UC Riverside.

Trailing by 22, the Waves used a 16-3 run to get back into the contest
Pepperdine recorded 17 assists and 12 steals
The Waves limited the Highlanders to nine field goals in the second half
Robie Mayberry was one rebound shy of a double-double night with 18 points
Ea Shoushtari and Shay Cooney-Williams dished six assists apiece

UC DAVIS RECAP: Pepperdine started and finished strong posting a 83-68 victory at UC Davis to open the 2012-13 season in style. Four Waves reached double-digit scoring in the contest, led by a game-high 22 points from Robie Mayberry.

Pepperdine recorded 20 assists and 13 steals
The Waves pressure defense forced 28 Aggie turnovers and scored 30 points off those miscues
Pepperdine shot well at the free throw line converting on 21-of-24 (.875)
The starting backcourt of Shay Cooney-Williams (11/6) and Ea Shoushtari (8/6) accounted for 19 points and 12 assists
The Waves shot .591 (13-22) from the field in the second half
Bria Richardson scored 11 points with two assists and two steals off the bench
Eight Waves scored in the contest

NEXT WEEK: Pepperdine will resume its annual Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 23-24 at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves welcome Seton Hall, South Dakota State and Wyoming to Malibu for the 2012 Pepperdine Thanksgiving Classic.
Pepperdine took runner-up honors the last time it hosted a Thanksgiving tournament - 2008’s Timeout for HIV/AIDS Tournament. The Waves beat Coppin State 54-36 before falling to Texas A&M 70-60 in the title game.

FOLLOW AND LIKE WAVES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Be sure and join Pepperdine’s growing communities on Facebook and Twitter. Follow and like the Waves today. Facebook: Pepperdine Women’s Basketball Twitter: @PEPPWBKB

GETTING IT STARTED IN STYLE: Since game-by-game records started being kept prior to the 1976-77 campaign, Pepperdine owns a 22-15 record in season openers. After upending UC Davis 83-68 on the road, the Waves have won five of their last six season debuts. The only blemish was a 89-57 decision at perennial national power Tennessee to kick off the 2011-12 campaign.

POLL PROGNOSTICATIONS: Pepperdine was picked to finish fifth in the 2012-13 West Coast Conference Coaches Poll. The Waves did not have a selection on the preseason all-WCC team.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men’s sports -- one of just 16 schools to have accomplished this feat -- and nine overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest enrollment and is the only school not associated with a BCS conference. Located in scenic Malibu, Calif., the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation’s most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks No. 54 overall on U.S. News and World Report’s list of America’s best colleges.

Head Coach Ryan Weisenberg

2012-13 Season

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