Pepperdine used a 17-0 second-half run to dispatch USF 71-63 in the 2000-2001 West Coast Conference regular season womens basketball finale for both teams Feb. 24 in War Memorial Gym. The Lady Dons complete the regular season with a 12-15 overall record and a 5-9 mark in league play while the Waves finish 20-9, 10-4 WCC and reach 20 victories for the fourth consecutive year.

Even with the loss, USF appears to have the fifth seed in next weeks WCC Tournament wrapped up and will face either Pepperdine or Loyola Marymount in first round action next week in San Diego at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

As has been their pattern in their last three consecutive games, the Lady Dons have constructed leads at the half, only to see their opponents use a late second half run to evaporate the lead and take the victory. With the loss, USF has dropped nine of their last 12.

Senior center Kim Whisler came through in her final game at War Memorial Gym with a game-high 16 points and added six rebounds, while sophomore guard Alicia Hernandez also poured in 16 off the bench for the Lady Dons.

Pepperdine got balanced scoring with four players in double-figure scoring led by sophomore guard Damaris Hinojosa, who finished with 14 points and forward Nadja Morgan, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Waves. After converting on .406 (13-32) from the floor in the first half, Pepperdine connected on .577 (15-26) in the second to finish at .483 for the game. USF shot .355 (22-62) from the floor. Pepperdine also out rebounded USF 44-33 and held a commanding 14-11 advantage on the offensive glass.

USF competes in the WCC tournament on Thursday in San Diego against either Pepperdine or Loyola Marymount. Tournament seeds and first round pairings will be released shortly.