An old coaching axiom states that it is tough to beat a team three times in a season. And following two losses during the regular season to Pepperdine, the Lady Dons were hoping the third time was the charm when they faced the Waves in the first round of the West Coast Conference Tournament in San Diego's Jenny Craig Pavilion.

USF discovered the answers at just the right time crashing the Waves 78-73. For the Lady Dons (13-15), it was their first tournament win since the 1996-97 campaign when USF won their third WCC Tournament title en route to their third straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. For the Waves (20-10), it marked their first first round exit in five years.

USF's backcourt was the difference today against the most athletic tandem in the WCC. Sophomore guard Alicia Hernandez poured in a career-high 26 points on 5-of-11 from the floor, including 5-for-7 from 3-point distance. Junior guard Lindsey Huff also emerged from a recent offensive slump to add a season-high 20 points.

After losing their last three games after holding a lead at halftime, USF stepped up their defensive intensity in the second period and out rebounded the Waves 21-18 in the second, and held a 45-36 advantage for the game. Pepperdine held a commanding edge in both USF defeats this season.

The Lady Dons came out of the gate on fire offensively, converting on .516 (16-31) from the floor in the first and held Pepperdine to .333 (12-36) in the first 20 minutes. USF was able to establish an inside outside game from the start - something the Lady Dons have been unable to do recently when they dropped nine of their last 11 to close the regular league season.

All-WCC First Team selection, senior center Kim Whisler scored 12 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for the Lady Dons and freshman forward Mary Jane Krueger also scored six points and added three boards.

USF led by as many as 13 points in the second half on a 3-pointer by Hernandez at the 14:44 mark. Pepperdine rallied and eventually tied the game at 57 on a jumper by sophomore Damaris Hinojosa, but the Lady Dons immediately answered with another 3-pointer by Hernandez, and a driving lay-and the Waves would get no closer as USF continued to build the lead as the procession to the foul line began for the Lady Dons.

USF head coach Mary Hile-Nepfel was impressed by the effort put forth by her team.

"I knew we were ready to play from the start and the difference for us was the defensive intensity and pressure we generated. We were able to make shots and Lindsey (Huff) and Alicia (Hernandez) were terrific today," Hile-Nepfel stated.

USF, the most successful team ever in the WCC Tournament and only squad to win the postseason classic three times, will play Friday against third-seeded Loyola Marymount. Tipoff is approximately 8:15 p.m.