Waves Travel to SEC Country for Sunday Matinee at Arkansas

Pepperdine Plays Final Game Before Breaking for Finals

Ea Shoushtari and the Waves play a Sunday SEC battle at Arkansas

Nov. 30, 2012

GAME NOTES | BASKETBALL ALMANAC | VIDEO PREVIEW

THIS WEEK FOR THE WAVES: Pepperdine travels to Arkansas for the first time in program history to take on the Razorbacks Sunday, December 2 in Fayetteville. It is the final non-conference road game for the Waves, who open a four-game homestand against Seattle U. Friday, December 14 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Sunday will be the first ever meeting between Pepperdine and Arkansas.

COVERAGE: Fans unable to make it to Fayetteville can check out the game streamed live online via WaveCasts. Links for WaveCasts and live stats will be available at the official cyberspace home for Pepperdine Athletics, PepperdineSports.com. Nick Law will have the call for the Waves and Razorbacks.

MILEAGE PLUS: With trips to Seattle and Fayetteville in a six-day stretch, Pepperdine will collect plenty of frequent flier miles between Monday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 3. The Waves will travel 4,474 miles during the span.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 2012-13 BULLETS

After six games, Waves are averaging 9.2 steals per game and have forced 21.8 turnovers per contest.
Pepperdine dished 20 assists in its season-opening 83-68 win at UC Davis (11/9/12).
Waves shoot better from 3-point range .388 (40-103) than overall from the field .383 (137-358).
In six games, Pepperdine has scored 120 points (20.0 ppg) off turnovers.
Pepperdine has received plenty of scoring from its bench as Wave reserves average 22.0 points per game off the pine. Pepperdine owns a 132-82 advantage in bench scoring, including a 33-3 margin at Washington (11/27/12).
Robie Mayberry surpassed her 2011-12 season scoring total (75) in her sixth game of the season (85) and needs 16 rebounds to match her output from last season (56). Mayberry appeared in 17 games for the Waves in 2011-12.
Shay Cooney-Williams had 18 assists last season in 29 games. This season the senior guard has 24 in six contests.
Ea Shoushtari 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 63.5 points per game and has scored 70 or more in three contests.

WAVES AND RAZORBACKS

Pepperdine is set to take on Arkansas for the first time in program history Sunday in Fayetteville.
The Waves last outing against an SEC school came in the 2011-12 season opener at perennial national power Tennessee, a 89-57 loss (11/13/11).
Top Razorback Tom Collen collected his 100th victory as the Arkansas head coach in a 79-67 win against Oregon last weekend in Hawaii.
Junior forward Keira Peak earned SEC player of the week honors, averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 steals at the Rainbow Wahine Classic.

GAME SEVEN - AT ARKANSAS: Sunday (Dec. 2) at the Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.: Pepperdine (2-4) at Arkansas (6-1) at 12:00 p.m. (PT)

LAST MEETINGS: First meeting

SERIES RECORD/STREAK: First meeting.

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

LAST GAME FOR ARKANSAS: at Arkansas 72, Texas Southern 50 (11/29/12)

WAVES VS. SEC: Pepperdine will play just its eighth game against an SEC opponent Sunday when it takes on Arkansas in the first meeting between the two programs. The Waves are 1-7 against the current membership, at least as of Nov. 28. Pepperdine’s lone win against an SEC foe came in a 101-91 triumph against Texas A&M in the 1980-81 campaign at Firestone Fieldhouse. The Razorbacks are the first of two SEC foes for the Waves, who also host Kentucky Dec. 18 in Malibu.

WAVES VS. BCS PROGRAMS: Pepperdine plays a total of five games against BCS schools in 2012-13. The Waves play three against the Pac-12 (USC, Washington and UCLA) and two against the SEC (Arkansas and Kentucky).

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 six games, five Waves have already eclipsed their 2011-12 scoring output - Grace Leah Baughn (24-8), Tessa Emerson (26/21), Robie Mayberry (85-75), Bria Richardson (27-14) and Ea Shoushtari (50-22).
Returning Waves account for .906 of the total offense so far (345 points), averaging 57.5 points per game.
Pepperdine veterans average 24.5 rebounds per game, 12.8 assists and 9.0 steals per game

WASHINGTON RECAP: Pepperdine led early, but could not overcome a huge rebounding deficit, dropping a 70-51 loss at Washington in the Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. Robie Mayberry and Shay Cooney-Williams scored 12 to lead the Waves.

Washington out-rebounded Pepperdine 43-24, 14-8 on the offensive glass and held a 32-24 advantage in scoring in the paint.
The Waves outscored the Husky reserves 33-3.
Pepperdine had 15 assists on 21 field goals.
The Waves rolled early and built a seven-point lead, 19-12 on a 3-pointer by Cooney-Williams with 8:20 left. UW responded with a 21-4 run to close the half.

CALL ME MAYBE(RRY): Robie Mayberry (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O’Dowd HS) leads Pepperdine in scoring (14.2) and rebounds (6.7) this season.

Mayberry rates second in field goal (.424) and free throw percentage (.900)
Waves leader in scoring four times; rebounding four times
Reached double-digit scoring in five contests
Career-high 10 rebounds vs. South Dakota (11/23/12)

DOUBLE-DOUBLE WATCH:

Robie Mayberry turned in her first collegiate double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against South Dakota (11/23/12). The 10 rebounds were a career-high.
Shay Cooney-Williams (Frisco, Texas/Frisco HS) turned in the first double-double of her Pepperdine career with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort at USC (11/18/12). The 10 boards were a career-high and tied for the most by a Wave this season.

UP NEXT FOR THE WAVES: After taking on the Razorbacks, Pepperdine will take a long break for final exams before opening a four-game homestand against Seattle U. Friday, December 14 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Tip-off against the Redhawks is set for 7:00 p.m.

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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