Waves Host No. 7 Kentucky Tuesday at Firestone Fieldhouse

Pepperdine Tackles Second SEC Foe This Season

Ea Shoustari and the Waves host No. 7 Kentucky Tuesday night
 
Ea Shoustari and the Waves host No. 7 Kentucky Tuesday night
  
 

Dec. 17, 2012

GAME NOTES Get Acrobat Reader  |  BASKETBALL ALMANAC  |  SEATTLE U. RECAP

The Last Meeting
Kentucky73
Pepperdine64
January 2, 1990
Malibu, Calif.

THIS WEEK FOR THE WAVES: Pepperdine plays its first ranked opponent of the season Tuesday when No. 7 Kentucky visits Firestone Fieldhouse. Tip-off against the Wildcats is set for 7:00 p.m. in a game streamed live via WaveCast.

PEPPERDINE TOY DRIVE: Pepperdine basketball fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to Tuesday’s game against No. 7 Kentucky. Those who participate will receive free admission.

COVERAGE: Fans unable to make it to Firestone Fieldhouse 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 Wildcats.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 2012-13 BULLETS

  • After eight games, Waves are averaging 8.8 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).
  • In eight games, Pepperdine has scored 152 points (19.0 ppg) off turnovers.
  • The Waves are getting it done at the free throw line, converting on .731 (87-119) from the stripe as a team, third in the WCC.
  • Pepperdine has received plenty of scoring from its bench as Wave reserves average 22.0 points per game off the pine. Pepperdine owns a 176-124 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 10 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 28 in eight 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.
  • Jade McNorton surpassed her 2011-12 scoring output (46) in just seven games after playing in 28 contests with 11 starts as a sophomore.
  • Despite losing nearly 75 percent of its scoring from a year ago, Pepperdine is averaging 61.2 points per game and has scored 70 or more in four contests.

WAVES AND WILDCATS

  • Pepperdine is set to take on Kentucky for the second time in program history and the first since 1991 Tuesday in Malibu.
  • The Wildcats are the second SEC opponent the Waves will face this season (at Arkansas) and the first to travel to Malibu.
  • This is Kentucky’s second visit to Firestone Fieldhouse. The Wildcats took a 73-64 victory Jan. 2, 1991.
  • This is the first ranked opponent the Waves have hosted since trouncing WCC foe No. 22 Brigham Young 61-49 (1/12/12).
  • The last top-10 opponent the Waves welcomed to Malibu was No. 7 Texas A&M (11/29/08), a 70-60 loss.

GAME NINE - VS. NO. 7 KENTUCKY: Tuesday (Dec. 18) at Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, Calif.: Kentucky (8-1) at Pepperdine (3-5) at 7:00 p.m. (PT)

LAST MEETINGS: Kentucky 73, at Pepperdine 64 (1/2/91)

SERIES RECORD/STREAK: Kentucky won one.

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

LAST GAME FOR KENTUCKY: at Kentucky 68, Middle Tennessee 46 (12/9/12)

WAVES VS. SEC: Pepperdine will play just its ninth game against an SEC opponent Tuesday when No. 7 Kentucky visits Firestone Fieldhouse. The Waves are 1-8 against the current membership, following a 64-39 loss at Arkansas (12/2/12). 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.

WILDCAT BULLETS: 

  • Overall, UK ranks seventh in the nation in scoring margin, outscoring its opponent by +26.2 points.
  • UK also ranks third nationally in turnover margin (10.89) as the Wildcats are forcing 27.7 turnovers per game, while committing just 16.8.
  • The only loss for the Wildcats this season was a 85-51 loss to No. 1 Baylor (11/13/12).

SEATTLE U. RECAP: Pepperdine bounced back from a 36-33 halftime deficit to rally for a 70-64 victory. Jade McNorton led the way with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

  • Pepperdine out-rebounded the Redhawks 39-35.
  • Bria Richardson (11) and Kelsey Brockway (8) set new career scoring highs
  • The game featured 12 lead changes and 10 tie scores.
  • The Waves shot 13-for-24 (.542) in the second half.

CALL ME MAYBE(RRY): Robie Mayberry (Oakland, Calif./Bishop O’Dowd HS) leads Pepperdine in scoring (12.6) and rebounds (6.4) this season.

  • Mayberry rates third in field goal (.403) and second in free throw percentage (.900)
  • Waves leader in scoring four times; rebounding five times
  • Reached double-digit scoring in five contests
  • Career-high 10 rebounds vs. South Dakota (11/23/12)

DOUBLE-DOUBLE WATCH:

  • Jade McNorton recorded her first collegiate double-double with a 13-point, 11-rebound night vs. Seattle U. (12/14/12).
  • 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.

UP NEXT FOR THE WAVES: After taking on No. 7 Kentucky on Tuesday, Pepperdine will play its final game before taking a break for the Christmas holiday when it hosts Howard University Friday, Dec. 21. Tip-off against the Bison is set for 1:00 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.


 

 

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