Women’s Basketball Falls to Pepperdine in Close Rout at Leavey Center
Santa Clara University women’s basketball players walk toward their locker room after their 72-74 loss against Pepperdine on Jan. 30, 2026 at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)
In front of 1,952 fans at the Leavey Center on Saturday, Santa Clara women’s basketball (18-6, 8-3 WCC) lost to WCC eighth-ranked Pepperdine University (14-9, 5-6 WCC) 72-74 off a layup with two seconds left.
The crowd featured a large group of children from the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative, an organization that provides free sports programs for girls in under-resourced areas. The organization was co-founded by Brandi Chastain ’91.
Attendance at Santa Clara women’s basketball’s Female Empowerment Night on Jan. 30, 2026 was 1,952. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)
Aniya Hooker makes a layup in the fourth quarter of Santa Clara women’s basketball’s game against Pepperdine University on Jan. 30, 2026 at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)
The Broncos got 18 more shots up than the Waves, but struggled with making their shots. A shooting percentage of 30.7% proved crucial as the Waves shot 50.9%.
At halftime, Pepperdine was up by only 1 point at 34-33. The Waves pulled ahead again, holding their lead in the third quarter. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Waves were up 57-53.
A layup by Aniya Hooker ’28 and successful free throws by grad student guard Ashley Hawkins and Hooker brought the Broncos to a 61-61 tie with 5:14 left in the game.
The Waves made a run to go up 72-67 with 28 seconds on the clock.
Ava Schmidt ’27 checked in at 28 seconds left and quickly made her presence felt by hitting a clutch 3-pointer five seconds later. A Pepperdine foul then brought Hawkins to the free throw line where she made both of her two shots to tie the game at 72-72.
Elli Guiney, with Hawkins defending her, dribbled to the basket and put up a shot that banked in with 2 seconds on the clock, putting Pepperdine up by two points.
Maia Jones ’26 was not able to make her 3-point shot to win the game for the Broncos.
With this loss, the Broncos drop from second to third in the West Coast Conference standings.
Next up: The Broncos travel to the University of Pacific on Thursday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Maia Jones shoots a 3-pointer with two seconds left in Santa Clara women’s basketball’s game against Pepperdine University on Jan. 30, 2026 at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. They were down 72-74. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)
Pepperdine women’s basketball players celebrate their West Coast Conference win against Santa Clara on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2026 at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)