Wednesday, December 30
Malibu, Calif.
5 p.m.
Gonzaga University
at
Pepperdine University
Photo by: Mike Wootton
WBB Faces Pepperdine in Malibu Wednesday
12/29/2020 12:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Zags look to extend win streak to six games
LOS ANGELES – The No. 23/23 Gonzaga women's basketball team travel to Malibu, Calif., to take on Pepperdine on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Firestone Fieldhouse.
#23/23 GONZAGA (6-2, 1-0 WCC) vs. PEPPERDINE (3-2, 0-1 WCC)
DEC. 30 | 5 P.M. | FIRESTONE FIELDHOUSE | MALIBU, CALIF.
LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS
THE TIP-OFF
- Following a 65-62 victory at Loyola Marymount on Monday, Dec. 28 to open WCC play, Gonzaga travels north to Malibu, Calif., to take on the Pepperdine Waves at the Firestone Fieldhouse on Dec. 30.
- The Bulldogs have faced Pepperdine at least twice a year in conference play since the 1988-89 season.
- This will be the 14th time in program history the Zags have taken the floor on Dec. 30, and GU carries a 6-7 overall mark on the date. The Zags have set a couple of top-5 program marks on Dec. 30, including the fourth-best assists mark with 29, which they set back on Dec. 30, 2009 against UC Santa Barbara. That same game also sparked a 21-game win streak, which ties for the 2nd best win streak in program history.
- For the second time in program history, the Bulldogs were ranked in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Gonzaga debuted at No. 21 in the AP poll and at No. 20 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It marks the third time in history GU has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll and the second-straight season.
- Currently, Gonzaga is ranked 23rd in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 44 consecutive voting weeks, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.
- The Bulldogs return three starters and nine letter winners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' fourth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
- In 2019-20, Gonzaga rose to its highest regular-season national ranking ever, securing a No. 11 AP and No. 10 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. Prior to the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zags were predicted as high as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were expected to host the First and Second Rounds for the first time since the NCAA changed hosting rules for the tournament in 2014-15.
- Gonzaga returns 79.1 percent of its scoring and 79.2 percent of its rebounding from last season.
- Gonzaga returns as one of the top defensive teams in the nation from a season ago. In 2019-20, the Bulldogs ranked third in the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 51.9 points per game.
- The Bulldogs won 28 games last season, including a 17-1 mark in WCC play to tie their own record for wins in a conference season. It was the fourth-straight 25+ win season and 12th 25+ win season in the last 13 seasons.
SERIES NOTES
- HOME: 22-10, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 17-17, series tied
- NEUTRAL: 5-3, Gonzaga leads
- FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga won, 60-59 in Malibu (1/22/88)
- LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won 64-50 (2/22/20 in Malibu)
- STREAK: Gonzaga, Won 8
SCOUTING THE WAVES
- Pepperdine is 3-2 overall on the season, but the Waves are currently on a two-game skid with losses to Cal Baptist (75-67, 12/15/20) and Portland (74-64, 12/28/20). So far, two games on the Waves' schedule have been canceled: vs. UCLA on Nov. 29, and at Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 20.
- As a team, Pepperdine averages 64.4 points per contest shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent from long range. The Waves also add an even 40.0 rebounds per game, one of four teams in the WCC to average at least 40 rebounds per contest (Gonzaga ranks second behind Saint Mary's).
- Pepperdine averages 11.2 assists and 18.6 turnovers per game for a 0.6 assist-to-turnover ratio, and the Waves add 6.0 steals per game and 3.8 blocks per game.
- Three players average double-figures for Pepperdine, led by Malia Bambrick at 13.8 points per game shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from long range. Monique Andriuolo adds 11.6 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per contest, while Cheyenne Givens chips in 10.8 points per game in 26 minutes of play.
- Pepperdine was selected to finish seventh in the WCC in the poll released on Oct. 27. No player on the roster was selected as preseason all-conference.
#23/23 GONZAGA (6-2, 1-0 WCC) vs. PEPPERDINE (3-2, 0-1 WCC)
DEC. 30 | 5 P.M. | FIRESTONE FIELDHOUSE | MALIBU, CALIF.
LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS
THE TIP-OFF
- Following a 65-62 victory at Loyola Marymount on Monday, Dec. 28 to open WCC play, Gonzaga travels north to Malibu, Calif., to take on the Pepperdine Waves at the Firestone Fieldhouse on Dec. 30.
- The Bulldogs have faced Pepperdine at least twice a year in conference play since the 1988-89 season.
- This will be the 14th time in program history the Zags have taken the floor on Dec. 30, and GU carries a 6-7 overall mark on the date. The Zags have set a couple of top-5 program marks on Dec. 30, including the fourth-best assists mark with 29, which they set back on Dec. 30, 2009 against UC Santa Barbara. That same game also sparked a 21-game win streak, which ties for the 2nd best win streak in program history.
- For the second time in program history, the Bulldogs were ranked in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Gonzaga debuted at No. 21 in the AP poll and at No. 20 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It marks the third time in history GU has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll and the second-straight season.
- Currently, Gonzaga is ranked 23rd in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 44 consecutive voting weeks, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.
- The Bulldogs return three starters and nine letter winners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' fourth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
- In 2019-20, Gonzaga rose to its highest regular-season national ranking ever, securing a No. 11 AP and No. 10 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. Prior to the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zags were predicted as high as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were expected to host the First and Second Rounds for the first time since the NCAA changed hosting rules for the tournament in 2014-15.
- Gonzaga returns 79.1 percent of its scoring and 79.2 percent of its rebounding from last season.
- Gonzaga returns as one of the top defensive teams in the nation from a season ago. In 2019-20, the Bulldogs ranked third in the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 51.9 points per game.
- The Bulldogs won 28 games last season, including a 17-1 mark in WCC play to tie their own record for wins in a conference season. It was the fourth-straight 25+ win season and 12th 25+ win season in the last 13 seasons.
SERIES NOTES
- HOME: 22-10, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 17-17, series tied
- NEUTRAL: 5-3, Gonzaga leads
- FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga won, 60-59 in Malibu (1/22/88)
- LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won 64-50 (2/22/20 in Malibu)
- STREAK: Gonzaga, Won 8
SCOUTING THE WAVES
- Pepperdine is 3-2 overall on the season, but the Waves are currently on a two-game skid with losses to Cal Baptist (75-67, 12/15/20) and Portland (74-64, 12/28/20). So far, two games on the Waves' schedule have been canceled: vs. UCLA on Nov. 29, and at Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 20.
- As a team, Pepperdine averages 64.4 points per contest shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent from long range. The Waves also add an even 40.0 rebounds per game, one of four teams in the WCC to average at least 40 rebounds per contest (Gonzaga ranks second behind Saint Mary's).
- Pepperdine averages 11.2 assists and 18.6 turnovers per game for a 0.6 assist-to-turnover ratio, and the Waves add 6.0 steals per game and 3.8 blocks per game.
- Three players average double-figures for Pepperdine, led by Malia Bambrick at 13.8 points per game shooting 41.9 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from long range. Monique Andriuolo adds 11.6 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per contest, while Cheyenne Givens chips in 10.8 points per game in 26 minutes of play.
- Pepperdine was selected to finish seventh in the WCC in the poll released on Oct. 27. No player on the roster was selected as preseason all-conference.
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