MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic swings and a final-second dagger, the Pepperdine Waves edged the UC Davis Aggies 71-68 in a non-conference women’s basketball thriller Thursday night at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 438, was a showcase for two prolific scorers. Pepperdine’s Elli Guiney poured in a game-high 27 points, while UC Davis’s Ryann Bennett answered with 21 points, four assists and three blocks in a relentless effort. But it was Pepperdine’s Taija Sta. Maria who delivered the decisive blow, a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to snap a 68-68 tie and secure the Waves’ 20th victory of the season.

The game’s final 39 seconds encapsulated the entire night’s tension. With the score knotted at 68, Pepperdine called a full timeout to set up a play. Out of the break, the Waves worked the ball to Guiney, whose jump shot was blocked by Bennett. In the ensuing scramble, Pepperdine was whistled for a shot-clock violation, giving UC Davis possession with 48 seconds remaining and a chance to hold for the last shot.

The Aggies, after using a full timeout of their own with 44 seconds left, ran the clock down. Bennett’s 3-point attempt with six seconds on the clock missed, but Nya Epps secured the critical offensive rebound for UC Davis. The Aggies immediately called another timeout, now with just six ticks remaining.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Epps found a cutting Bennett for a layup, tying the game at 68 with six seconds left. Pepperdine, with no timeouts remaining, advanced the ball quickly. Sta. Maria received a pass from Bella Green and, with a defender closing out, launched a 3-pointer from the wing as the horn sounded. The shot found nothing but net, sending the Pepperdine bench into a frenzy and capping a wild finish.

The game had been a battle of runs throughout. UC Davis started strong, leveraging an early 8-0 spurt to build a 21-19 lead after the first quarter, thanks to efficient play from Bennett and Epps, who finished with 15 points. Pepperdine responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Aggies 20-15 to take a 39-36 advantage into halftime, with Guiney heating up from beyond the arc.

The third quarter belonged to UC Davis’s defense, which held the Waves to just 13 points. The Aggies reclaimed a 54-52 lead heading into the final period, setting the stage for the back-and-forth fourth quarter. Neither team led by more than five points in the final frame, featuring seven ties and five lead changes.

Avery Sussex provided crucial secondary scoring for UC Davis with 16 points and three assists. For Pepperdine, Sta. Maria’s game-winner capped a well-rounded performance of 13 points and six assists. Green added nine points and was a force on the glass with multiple key defensive rebounds down the stretch.

The loss drops UC Davis to 23-11 overall, while Pepperdine improves to 20-12. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Waves were projected with a 56.3 percent probability to win.

UC Davis will look to rebound quickly, traveling to face Southern Utah on Sunday. Pepperdine’s season is now complete.