STOCKTON, Calif. – Basketball is a team game, and the Tigers showed that in their win over Pepperdine Saturday afternoon. A game that was close for the entirety, the Tigers pulled away from the Waves late for the 65-58 victory. 

The Tigers had four players reach double-digits scoring in the game. Elizabeth Elliott had 16 points, Anaya James had 13, Erica Adams had 12, and Liz Smith had 11. Elliott and Madelene Ennis had six rebounds, while Ennis and Smith had four assists to lead the team.  

The Tigers started strong, scoring the game's first six points as they got out to a lead that Pacific would maintain for the entire first quarter. "We had a couple of tough first quarters in a row," said Head Coach Bradley Davis. "One of the keys was starting strong. We started consistent."

The Waves took the lead in the second quarter for a brief moment before the Tigers regained the lead. The two teams were neck and neck in the second as the largest lead of the quarter was five points for the Tigers. The teams headed into the locker tied at 30 at the half. 

Pepperdine took their largest lead of the game with just under four minutes in the quarter at six points. The Tigers battled back, with Diamond Richardson hitting a three at the end of the quarter to put the Tigers back within one point heading into the final frame. 

Adams gave the Tigers the lead just a few seconds into the fourth quarter. Neither team was able to pull away until the end, with James hitting two free throws to give the Tigers a two-possession lead with two minutes to go. "Diamond Richardson did a great job of coming in and giving us a burst of energy and a jolt that everybody fed off of," Said Coach Davis. With both teams in the bonus, the Tigers could drain the clock and win the game 65-58. 

The Tigers are back at home next Thursday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. as they take on Loyola Marymount.