MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — The Pepperdine Waves used a decisive third-quarter surge and a standout performance from Meghan Fiso to fend off a late rally and defeat the Saint Mary’s Gaels 60-52 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Friday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and scoring droughts, Pepperdine improved to 10-5 overall while Saint Mary’s dropped its third straight game to fall to 9-7.

The game’s pivotal stretch came after halftime. Leading by just three points at 28-25, the Waves opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run, capped by a Meghan Fiso layup off an Elli Guiney assist, to push their advantage to 36-27. Saint Mary’s, which struggled offensively all night, could not mount a consistent response. Pepperdine’s defense tightened, forcing several Gael turnovers and contested shots, allowing the Waves to extend their lead to 13 points at 47-34 by the end of the period.

Fiso, a guard from Seattle, was instrumental in building that cushion, scoring eight of her team-high 14 points in the third quarter. She finished with 14 points, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes. Guiney, from Goodyear, Arizona, facilitated the offense with 12 points and five assists, while forward Shorna Preston of Christchurch, New Zealand, anchored the paint with 14 points, three blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Saint Mary’s, which shot a frigid 4 points in the opening quarter and trailed 13-4, found occasional rhythm but never fully recovered from the early deficit. The Gaels mounted a final challenge in the fourth quarter, cutting a 15-point Pepperdine lead down to six at 56-50 with 2:32 remaining after an Edie Clarke layup. Clarke, a 6-foot-4 center from Melbourne, Australia, led Saint Mary’s with 10 points and nine rebounds.

However, Pepperdine answered immediately. On the ensuing possession, Lina Falk found Elli Guiney for a critical 3-pointer from the wing, stretching the lead back to nine and effectively sealing the victory. Falk, a guard from Wolfsburg, Germany, contributed seven points and three assists.

The Gaels were led by Clarke and forward Abigail Shoff of Redding, California, who added nine points. Charlece Ohiaeri provided a spark off the bench with nine points in just 10 minutes, but Saint Mary’s overall offensive execution was hampered by Pepperdine’s length and activity, resulting in a low-percentage shooting night.

A key factor was Pepperdine’s ability to capitalize on Saint Mary’s mistakes, scoring 15 points off 18 Gael turnovers. The Waves also controlled the interior, outscoring Saint Mary’s 34-20 in the paint and blocking five shots.

The win gives Pepperdine momentum as it continues conference play, while Saint Mary’s will look to snap its skid quickly. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Moraga, California, on Jan. 22.

The announced attendance at Firestone Fieldhouse was 318.