Malibu, CA (Jan. 26) - Sophomore guard Damaris Hinojosa poured in a game-high 18 points, while Shandrika Leee added 15 as Pepperdine proved too much for USF 78-59 in West Coast Conference women's basketball action Jan. 26 in Firestone Fieldhouse. The Lady Dons (10-8, 3-2 WCC) drop their second straight league decision after a 3-0 start, while the Waves (13-7, 3-2 WCC) win their second straight. USF has not defeated Pepperdine in Malibu since the 1996-97 campaign.

USF took a 4-2 early lead but then Pepperdine outscored USF 26-10 through the next 10 minutes, trailing 39-25 at the half. The Lady Dons scored the first four points after intermission but the Waves answered every Lady Dons challende and USF could not cut the lead to single-digits. Pepperdine led by as many as 22 points in the second frame.

Leading the way for USF offensively were senior forward Cortney Keegan and junior guard Melanie Turner who each scored 10 points. Keegan also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in a solid effort. Turner also collected six steals for the Lady Dons. Senior center Kim Whisler scored eight points to go along with eight rebounds, but was hampered by foul trouble for much of the contest.

USF stays in the LA area tomorrow when they face the Lions of Loyola Marymount in WCC action. The Lions scored an impressive 73-68 victory against previously unbeaten conference leaders, Saint Mary's. Game time is