Three Waves score in double figures in Monday’s loss

On By Littum

The Pepperdine women’s basketball team hit nine from behind the arc in Monday night’s 75-54 loss to Gonzaga.

After outscoring the Zags (7-8, 2-2) in the second quarter, the Waves (5-7, 0-3) struggled to overcome a nine-point first quarter deficit and eventually lost 75-54.

BIG WAVES

Senior Ella Brubaker (University Place, Wash.) led the Waves with 17 points to go along with two steals and two rebounds.

Freshman Chloe Sotell (Samford, Conn.) was right behind Brubaker with 15 points and a team-high seven assists.

Senior Makena Mastora (Alameda, Calif.) was the third Wave to hit double figures with 11 points and led the team with six rebounds.

KEY STATISTICS

Gonzaga graduate Yvonne Ejim had nearly a third of the team’s points with 23.

The two teams finished with 15 turnovers.

Pepperdine struggled on the boards, grabbing 19 rebounds compared to Gonzaga’s 41.

OVERVIEW

Starting slow and steady, the Waves shot just 31.3 percent from the field, including 20 percent from three. However, Brubaker was a perfect 2-2 and had eight through the first quarter. Pepperdine trailed early 14-23.

Washington native Brubaker doubled his first quarter performance to have 16 through the first half. Outscored 8-22 in the first 20 minutes, the Waves outscored the Zags 17-16 in the second quarter to plant the seeds for a comeback.

At the half, the Waves were down 31-39.

With Gonzaga on assists and staying within range on rebounds, things remained manageable in the third. Mastora led the team in the quarter with five points. With 10 minutes left, Pepperdine was within striking distance with a score of 43-56.

Things started to unravel in the final quarter for the Waves. Shooting 23 percent from the field, shots stopped finding the basket as Gonzaga closed out the game.

Pepperdine lost to the expected conference champions 75-54.

UP NEXT

The Waves are back at home on January 2nd to take on the Toreros in San Diego. Tip-off is scheduled for 18. Stats can be found at pepperdinewaves.com and the game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required.)