MALIBU, Calif. – After a slow start in the first half, Pacific women's basketball came together in the second to earn the 70-54 comeback victory against Pepperdine on Thursday at Firestone Fieldhouse.
With the win, Pacific (15-11, 7-6 WCC) sweeps its second West Coast Conference team of the season. The Tigers swept Saint Mary's back on Jan. 25.
Three Tigers finished in double figures. Senior Kadie Deaton led the way with 15 points and drained 3-of-4 from the three-point line. Senior Liz Smith had 13 points while leading the team with a season-high eight rebounds and career-high five steals. Graduate student Cecilia Holmberg registered 11 points along with five rebounds to surpass the 300th board mark in her career. The Bjarred, Sweden native also notched a career-high four steals.
Pacific was down 21-9 in the first quarter but a bucket from sophomore Lauren Glazier and a three and two free throws from Deaton helped it get within eight at the end, 24-16.
Deaton scored in the paint at the 7:04 mark in the second sparking a 7-0 run that brought the Tigers within three, 26-23. The Waves responded with back-to-back baskets that kept them up through the rest of the first half. Deaton drained a three with 47 seconds left and Pacific was back within three before Pepperdine (5-22, 1-13 WCC) made one final bucket to take the 35-30 lead at halftime.
The Tigers made adjustments in the locker room and came out in the third outscoring the Waves 24-11. A basket from Holmberg in the first three minutes sparked a 14-7 run. Deaton fired a three to give Pacific its first lead of the game at the 3:31 mark. From there, the Tigers tallied their next 10 points while holding the Waves to just one field goal to go up 54-46 at the end of the third. Smith registered 11 of her points during the quarter.
Pacific pulled away with a 16-8 advantage in the fourth to claim the victory.
The Tigers shot 27-of-62 (.435) from the field, 4-of-15 (.267) at the three-point line and 12-of-16 (.750) from the free throw line. The Waves were 21-of-54 (.389) overall, 5-of-12 (.417) from behind the arc and 7-of-11 (.636) at the charity stripe.
Pacific outscored Pepperdine 38-26 in the paint while registering 23 points off 24 Wave turnovers. The Tigers also had 13 points on 13 offensive rebounds and 14 on the fast break.
Up next, Pacific rounds out the week with a road contest at Loyola Marymount at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Gersten Pavilion.
NOTES
-This marked the 30
th meeting between Pacific and Pepperdine. With the win, the Tigers now lead the all-time series 20-10 and extended their winning streak against the Waves to four.
-It marked the second time this season Pacific has trailed at the half and came back to win. The first time the Tigers did it was at Long Beach State on Dec. 16.
-Pacific is now 11-5 when scoring 70 or more points.
-Both Holmberg and Smith have now posted double figures in 15 games this season.
-Three Tigers are close to reaching 1,000 points in their careers:
Anaya James (970),
Liz Smith (955),
Elizabeth Elliott (949)
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific Women's Basketball, be sure to follow the team on X (@Pacific_Hoops), Instagram (@pacificwbb) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Women's Basketball).
#PacificProud
