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USD vs PEP Feb 8

SAN DIEGO â€" Senior guard Aubrey Ward-El scored a game-high 23 points in helping the Toreros to a 79-53 home win over Pepperdine at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Ward-El converted 6-of-12 three-pointers and also dished out seven assists. Madison Pollock (12 points) and Maya Hood (11 points, 10 rebounds) also reached double-digit scoring.

In the first quarter Maya Hood got the Toreros off to a strong start with a three-point power play inside. Madison Pollock and Sydney Williams followed with baskets to cap off a 7-0 start for the Toreros. Aubrey Ward-El would connect on a long three-ball followed by a lay-in from Myah Pace to push the lead to 16-7. The Toreros would make it 27-12 on a second trey from Ward-El shortly before the end of the quarter. The Toreros would connect on 11-of-21 shots (52.4%) over the first ten minutes of action.

In the second quarter a rebound bucket by Hood and free throw from Ward-El extended USD's lead to 32-16 midway through the quarter. Ward-El's third three-pointer and a basket by Caroline Buhr would make it a commanding 37-20. The Waves would answer with three straight buckets down the stretch to get within 37-26 by halftime. Ward-El led all scorers at the break with 10 points, while Pepperdine was paced by Paige Fecske (9 points).

In the third period Yasmine Robinson-Bacote opened with a three-point play inside and Pepperdine would eventually get within 39-32. Sydney Williams, Madison Pollock and Patti Brossman would answer with three straight buckets to get it back to a double-digit lead at 45-32. Two more threes from Ward-El would push it to 51-35 to force Pepperdine into a timeout. Another Ward-El three and buckets from Buhr and Sydney Hunter gave USD its biggest lead at 23 points, 60-37. Pepperdine's Fecske would beat the buzzer with a three-ball to end the quarter 62-42.

In the final quarter Pepperdine went on a 6-0 run early on to pull to within 64-51. A Buhr lay-in ended the run with just under five minutes left in the game. Four more Torero baskets for an 8-0 run extended the lead to 76-53 with just under two minutes to go. A Pollock basket and Brossmann free throw closed out the scoring.

For the game the Toreros shot 47.8% from the field (33-69) and a solid 42.9% from beyond the arc (6-14). San Diego also dominated the boards with 44 rebounds to the Waves 31. Pepperdine received a team-high 19 points from Robinson-Bacote.

USD returns to the JCP this Saturday, Feb. 10th, for a 2:00 p.m. contest against the Santa Clara Broncos.