Jan. 14, 2010
Final Stats |
Action Photos 
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - All-WCC forward Miranda Ayim scored a season-high 29 points and Pepperdine pressured Santa Clara into 24 turnovers, beating the Broncos 83-67 Thursday night at the Leavey Center.
As they have done all season, Santa Clara (2-16; 0-3 WCC), came out playing well in the first half, leading 18-14 after the first 10 minutes. Lena Gipson made her first three baskets before picking up her second foul. Gipson would finish with her 10th double-double, scoring 11 points and clearing 10 rebounds, despite sitting out the majority of the first half.
Pepperdine (11-5; 2-0 WCC) - the league's top team in limiting its giveaways - committed just 12 turnovers while using a press defense to force SCU into 15 in the first half alone.
Ayim scored 12 of the Waves first 20 points. Pepperdine established a 27-21 lead with 5:29 left before halftime and that lead would not be challenged.
Santa Clara - the WCC leaders in 3-pointers per game - saw freshman guard Ashley Armstrong match a season-high by making three from long range. Armstrong led five Broncos in double-figure scoring, finishing with 13 points.
SCU was within nine early in the second half, trailing 43-34, before Pepperdine scored six-straight, to assume a 15-point lead, thanks to one of Shay Cooney-Williams' two 3s. The lead grew to 16 on a put-back by Ayim and her baseline trey put the game out of reach at 60-42 with just over nine minutes left.
The Waves can improve to 3-0 in league play if they can beat USF Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Broncos will try and rebound when they host LMU Saturday at 2 p.m.
