Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The University of San Diego women's basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit behind Katelyn McDaniel's and Maya Hood's double-doubles to propel the Toreros to a 68-64 win over Pepperdine University Thursday evening in a West Coast Conference game at the Firestone Fieldhouse.

With the win, the Toreros improve to 13-2 overall, move to 4-1 in the WCC and have now won nine of their last 10 games. With the loss, the Waves fall to 6-9 overall and fall to 1-3 in the WCC.

The Toreros offense was paced by Hood's 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, and she pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds. McDaniel was the next Torero with a double-double, as she scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in her first start of the season. Sophia Ederaine just missed being the third Torero with a double-double, as she had nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Kathernie Hamilton was the final Torero in double figures, as she had 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. As a team, USD shot 37.3% from the field, and out rebounded the Waves 55-31.

In the first half, the Toreros came out on fire, as a Malina Hood 3-pointer sparked a 7-2 USD run over the first 1:18 of the game. The Waves however responded with a 16-0 run over the next six plus minutes to take complete control of the game and grab an 18-7 lead with 12:00 to go.

The Waves would go on to build up a lead to as many as 12 on a few occasions, with the last one coming at 30-18 with 5:13 to go. Then the Toreros caught fire, as a Hamilton lay-up sparked a 13-2 run over the remaining five minutes to pull the Toreros to within one at 32-31, heading into the break.

In the second half, USD opened up the frame on a 14-4 run to take a 9-point lead with 15:27 to go, and they took complete control of the momentum. The Waves then answered right back with a 6-0 run, to pull back to within three, with just 14:09 to go.

A Malina Hood jumper then sparked a 12-3 San Diego run that gave the Toreros their biggest lead of the game, 12, at 57-45 with 6:55 to go. Pepperdine would then manage to get back to within three one time, but could get no closer, as USD was just to strong to overcome down the stretch.

The Toreros will return to action on Saturday, as they head over Los Angeles to take on the Lions of Loyola Marymount University in a 1 p.m. game.