Pepperdine surprise champion
When the West Coast Conference season started back in January it seemed unlikely Pepperdine would be playing Sunday afternoon at the McCarthey Athletic Center and unfathomable the Waves would be still be playing when the NCAA tournament tips off in two weeks.
That’s when the Waves, with a roster of one senior and two juniors, were stumbling along at 3-13.
But there they were on Sunday, outplaying top-seeded Santa Clara down the stretch to pull out a 71-67 win in the championship of the WCC women’s basketball tournament.
“We have definitely come a long way,” second-year Pepperdine coach Julie Rousseau said. “All things are possible.”
The game-winning points were provided by sophomore Daphanie Kennedy, the tourney MVP, but only after freshman Jessica Ross grabbed what may have been a game-saving rebound. And, the game was won when sophomore Nakeya Isabell tied up the ball with 1.4 seconds remaining.
Inside the final minute Pepperdine (14-16) had the ball with the score tied at 67.
With 5 seconds on the shot clock, Rousseau called a timeout but that didn’t result in anything impressive when play resumed, other that the fact that Kennedy’s desperation heave from in front of the bench hit solidly off the rim and Ross grabbed the long rebound.
The Waves reset the offense and with 9.4 seconds left Kennedy drove down the lane to convert a short runner.
Santa Clara (19-11) got the ball to half-court and called a timeout with 6.8 seconds left, but on the ensuing possession, Kayla Huss lost control of the ball, setting up a scramble that favored Pepperdine.
After describing the options for the final play, which included league MVP Michelle Cozad, who had 24 points, and Chandice Cronk, who had a clutch 3-pointer to force overtime in the semifinals, Broncos coach Michelle Bento-Jackson explained why the play broke down.
“We got the ball into Kayla’s hands,” she said. “Her defender slipped a little bit and I think she looked to attack a little bit and got into congestion.”
Another factor was Kennedy.
“I reached in and may have fouled her,” she said
It didn’t matter. After the tie-up at 1.4 seconds, Kennedy got the inbounds pass, was fouled and iced the game with two free throws.
Jasmane Clarendon had 15 points, Ross had 14 and Kennedy 12 in the balanced Waves attack that had five players in double figures.
Pepperdine 71, Santa Clara 67
Pepperdine (14-16)—Ball 5-7 1-1 11, Clarendon 5-13 5-6 15, Kennedy 4-14 2-2 12, Ross 4-9 4-4 14, Johnson 16 0-0 3, Boyd 1-4 0-0 2, Isabell 2-6 0-0 4, George 3-7 4-6 10, Totals 25-66 16-19 71.
Santa Clara (19-11)—Monteigh 4-6 0-0 8, Cozad 7-18 9-11 24, Walker 4-10 0-0 9, Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Huss 3-8 3-4 10, Cronk 1-3 2-2 4, Gonnerman 5-9 0-0 10, Graham 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 25-57 14-17 67.
Halftime–Santa Clara 34, Pepperdine 33. 3-Point Goals–Pepperdine 5-16 (Kennedy 2-5, Ross2-5, Johnson 1-3, Boyd 0-2, Isabell 0-1). Santa Clara 3-14 (Cozad 1-5, Walker 1-2, Martin 0-1, Huss 1-3, Cronk 0-1, Gonnerman 0-1, Graham 0-1). Fouled out–None. Rebound–Pepperdine 45 (George 8), Santa Clara 34 (Cozad 9). Assists–Pepperdine 14 (Claredendon, Ross, Johnson 3), Santa Clara 13 (Walker 5). Total fouls–Pepperdine 14, Santa Clara 13. A–909.