-/RV Gonzaga (14-4, 5-0 WCC) at Pepperdine (4-8, 0-3 WCC)
THURSDAY, JAN. 25 | 7 P.M. | FIRESTONE FIELDHOUSE | MALIBU, CALIF.
LIVE VIDEO |  LIVE STATS | 94.1 FM or 790 AM KJRB
 
THE TIP OFF
- The Gonzaga Bulldogs travel to Pepperdine this Thursday, Jan. 27, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. 
- Gonzaga is coming off its fifth-straight WCC win with a 66-53 victory at Saint Mary's. Juniors Kayleigh Truong and Kaylynne Truong both scored 14 points against the Gaels. Sophomore Yvonne Ejim also scored in double digits, recording 13 points and six rebounds. Senior Melody Kempton had a team-high 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.
- Kayleigh Truong leads the tam with 11.3 points, despite having to sit out three games due to an injury. She is also averaging 3.5 assists a game. Kaylynne Truong is right behind her with 11 points, 3.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds a game. Melody Kempton leads the Bulldogs in rebounds with grabbing an average of 6.1. Yvonne Ejim leads the team in blocks (24) and steals (25) with averaging 20.5 minutes off the bench.
- GU is forcing an average of 14.2 turnovers per game and a total of 256 so far this season.
- The Zags are averaging 40.4 rebounds a game and a 10.6 rebound margin, which ranks fifth in the nation and first in the WCC.
- Offensively, Gonzaga averages 68.8 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 16.8 points over WCC teams so far this year.
- The Zags ranked 20th in the nation and first in the WCC in free-throw percentage with a 77.7 percent along with 27th in the nation in and first in the conference three-point field goal percentage with 35.8 percent. The team also ranks first in the conference in scoring defense with 56.3 points along with first in free throws made with 240 so far this season.
- Last season, the Zags advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight year under head coach Lisa Fortier.
- Gonzaga returns two starters and seven letterwinners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' fifth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
-The Zags won their ninth WCC Tournament Title in 2021 with a thrilling victory over BYU in the championship game.

GAME AT A GLANCE
SERIES INFO: 76 all-time meetings, Gonzaga leads 46-30    
STREAK: Gonzaga - 9    
FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine, 60-59, on the road in 1988.    
LAST MEETING: The Bulldogs won at home, 95-49, and also won on the road, 58-49, against the Waves last season.    
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Bulldogs are on a three-game road stretch. The Zags just won on the road at Saint Mary's and after the road trip to Pepperdine, the team travels to San Diego on Jan. 29.                                           
IN THE POLLS: GU has received votes in every week's coaches poll, except for two weeks this year.                

SCOUTING THE WAVES
- Pepperdine is currently 4-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference. The Waves will also play Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night before taking on the Bulldogs on Thursday.
- In the non-confernece portion of their schedule, the Zags and Waves had one common foe, Eastern Washington University. Pepperdine defeated EWU at home, 67-48, on Nov. 14.
- So far this season, Pepperdine has played Santa Clara (L, 64-74), Saint Mary's (L, 70-53) and Pacific (L, 65-58). 
- Ally Stedman leads the team with 11.5 points a game. She also has a team-high 17 steals  and averages 2.9 rebounds a game.
- Becky Obinma grabs an average of 7.1 rebounds and has team-high 14 blocks recorded this season.
- The Waves force 15.3 turnovers a game and are top 10 in the nation and first in the WCC for fewest fouls allowed.
- The team is also ranked fourth and first in the conference for fewest turnovers a game, only averaging 14.3 a game. 
- The Zags will be seeking their 10th-straight win over Pepperdine. Since 2008, Gonzaga has won 29 times and have only fell twice to the Waves.