Pepperdine Women’s Basketball Faces Northern Arizona in Key West Coast Conference Matchup
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Pepperdine women’s basketball (2-1) travels to Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday night to take on the Northern arizona Lumberjacks in a crucial early-season contest. The Waves are looking to continue their strong start adn build momentum in the West Coast Conference.
The Waves suffered their frist defeat of the season Friday, falling to Utah Valley 56-85. Despite the loss, freshman Seleh Harmon led the team with 12 points, showcasing her shooting prowess with a 3-for-5 performance from beyond the arc.Shorne Preston continues to dominate the boards, securing 11 rebounds against Utah Valley and consistently leading Pepperdine in that category.
Waves Aim for Best Start in Over Five Years
Currently boasting a 2-1 record, Pepperdine has an opportunity to move to 3-1, marking one of the programme’s best starts to a season in over five years.Through the first three games, the Waves have established themselves as a potent offensive force, ranking as the No. 3 offense in the league and second in both three-pointers made and three-point percentage.
A key component of Pepperdine’s offensive success is their ball movement, averaging 19.67 assists per game – just slightly behind Portland for the top spot in the WCC. Individually, Shorne Preston currently leads the conference in rebounding, averaging an impressive 9.3 boards per game.
A Team Built Anew
The Waves’ roster features a unique blend of experience and youth.Elli Guiney, the team’s sole sophomore, has quickly become a valuable contributor, setting two new career-highs in her first two games. Coach Faulkner and her staff undertook a meaningful roster overhaul, assembling a team comprised of four freshmen and eight transfers, making Pepperdine one of only two Division I teams without a single player returning from the 2025-26 season.
This diverse squad includes five transfers from Division I schools, a standout guard from a Division II program, and a forward from Dodge City Community College in kansas. Notably, three players hail from Australia – Bella Green, Zoe Shanahan, and Shorne Preston – bringing international experience and talent to Malibu. The Waves’ global portrayal extends further, with players from Canada, Romania, Germany, and Spain, including Irune Orioa from Xavier and Ilinca Belegante from Romania.
Series History and Scouting Report
Pepperdine holds a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series against Northern Arizona, but trails 2-3 in games played in Flagstaff. Their last meeting two seasons ago resulted in an 80-62 loss for the Waves in Malibu. However, Pepperdine has been dominant on the road against NAU, having not lost a contest since the 1994-95 season, posting a 4-1 record in their last five matchups.
Northern Arizona enters Wednesday’s game with a 1-3 record, most recently falling to UC Irvine 75-90. The Lumberjacks’ lone victory came against Embry-Riddle. Naomi White is the driving force for NAU, averaging an impressive 23.0 points per game while shooting 50% from three-point range. Defensively, Madison Watts leads the Lumberjacks with 6.5 rebounds per game.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Live stats will be available at www.pepperdinewaves.com.
Pepperdine women’s basketball has a rich history, with four NCAA postseason appearances, four WCC regular-season titles, and three WCC Tournament championships. The program also boasts six All-American selections and a memorable run to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2019 WNIT Tournament.
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