FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — The Pepperdine women’s basketball team opened its season with a decisive 84-70 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night at Titan Gymnasium, overcoming a third-quarter surge from the home team.

The Waves established control early, racing out to a 19-10 lead after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 47-31 by halftime. Pepperdine’s offense was fueled by a dominant second quarter where they outscored the Titans 28-21.

Cal State Fullerton mounted a significant challenge after the break, winning the third quarter 28-18 to cut the deficit to just six points. The Titans’ run threatened to undo Pepperdine’s strong start, but the Waves regrouped in the final period, holding Fullerton to just 11 points while adding 19 of their own to secure the 14-point win.

Pepperdine’s offense was a balanced effort, with five players scoring in double figures. Ivory Finley and Elli Guiney led the way with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Guiney added four rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes of play. Meghan Fiso contributed 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Seleh Harmon added 15 points. Taija Sta. Maria directed the offense effectively, dishing out a team-high seven assists.

For Cal State Fullerton, Nicole Steiner recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. Maxine Sutisna provided a significant offensive spark with 15 points and five rebounds. Jana Falsdottir also reached double figures, scoring 10 points.

Statistically, Pepperdine held a slight edge in points in the paint, 30-26, while Cal State Fullerton capitalized more on mistakes, scoring 24 points off turnovers compared to Pepperdine’s 20. An announced crowd of 336 was on hand for the season opener for both teams.

With the win, Pepperdine begins its season 1-0. The Waves are scheduled to host Westmont in their home opener on Saturday. Cal State Fullerton starts 0-1 and will look to rebound when they host Cleveland State on Sunday.