kylie ray at pepperdine 2_19_26 - credit griffin hooper
Griffin Hooper
55
San Diego SD 9-19,3-12 WCC
76
Winner Pepperdine PEP 16-11,7-8 WCC
San Diego SD
9-19,3-12 WCC
55
Final
76
Pepperdine PEP
16-11,7-8 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
San Diego SD 15 17 9 14 55
Pepperdine PEP 22 13 17 24 76

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | By Breven Honda | Freelance Writer

Torero Women's Basketball Falls at Pepperdine

Kylie Ray scores 18 points, but San Diego can’t quite come back in the second half against the Waves

MALIBU, Calif. —  The San Diego women's basketball team began its final road trip Thursday before the West Coast Conference Tournament, making the trip to Firestone Fieldhouse on the campus of Pepperdine University. 

Despite trailing by one point early in the third quarter after two free throws from Kylie Ray, that was as close the Toreros would get as USD fell 76-55. 

Ultimately, San Diego was unable to find its stride in the second half, shooting just 25% and was outscored 41-23 in the game's final 20 minutes.

Ray once again led the Toreros (9-19, 3-12 WCC) in scoring with a game-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists.  

The sophomore made a layup in the second quarter that was part of a 6-0 run to cut the deficit for Pepperdine (16-11, 7-8 WCC) down from 10 to four with 5:53 left before halftime. 

After Ray made a couple of jumpers to cut the lead down to two, Dresha Moore and Malia Tharpe got the Waves' lead to one on a couple of baskets of their own, including Moore hitting from long range with two minutes left in the second quarter. 

Also joining Ray in double figures was Olivia Owens, who scored 11 points. 

Thursday also marked the return of Hallie Rhoades, who missed the last four games. The senior logged a couple of points and three rebounds in her first action back on the court since suffering an injury.   

Pepperdine had five scorers in double figures, including 15 points from Tai Maria Sta. In addition Shorna Preston registered 13 points while Lina Falk and Bella Green both recorded a dozen points with the latter logging seven rebounds. 

Up next, San Diego will remain in Los Angeles as they will travel to Loyola Marymount Saturday for its final road game of the regular season. The Toreros and the Lions tipoff at Gersten Pavilion beginning at 4 p.m. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.  

NOTABLE
  • San Diego outscored Pepperdine, 34-26, in the paint as well as 10-5 on the fastbreak. 
  • Thursday was actually San Diego's final time in Firestone Fieldhouse as Pepperdine will move nearby to The Mountain at Mullin Park, a new facility on campus, beginning next season. 
  • Kylie Ray continues to find ways to score, posting 18 points to lead all scorers, including 12 in the first half. Thursday marked the 20th time this season with a double-digit scoring performance   
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