I'm really glad to see this team get a chance to play in the post-season. They are a very talented and deserving group who are every bit as good as UCSD having beaten them 2 out of 3 times this year.

UCD at Pepperdine (19-12) on Thursday, 3/19

Unfortunately, we didn't get a home game. How do they decide who gets to be the home team?

Pepperdine 19-12, 10-8 WCC; 6th place in conference. 127 in Massey ratings - below UCI, UCSD & Hawaii. Definitely a winnable game. Davis 152 in Massey ratings.

Maybe looking at rankings (NET, RPI, etc.)? Probably the potential attendance figures in.? UCD in midst finals, so some students would be gone. Pepperdine not on qtr system.

The Ags would play Southern Utah in the second round if they beat Pepperdine.

https://www.womensnit.com/bracket

UCSD (24-8) is a 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They will play #3 seed TCU (29-5) in the first round. That's a tough draw for them.

https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/basketball-women/d1/2026

UC Irvine (26-6) will play at San Diego State (25-5) in the first round of the WBIT.

https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/files/2026%20WBIT%20Bracket%20-%20Selection%20Bracket%20-%20Times%20(1).pdf

I do recall UCD couldn't host in some years due to the University Credit Union Center has been reserved for Picnic Day or other activities. I presume it wouldn't be an issue this year.

sounds like it’s mostly a bidding process with financial guarantees

Pepperdine (9-12, 10-8 WCC).
Common opponents:
Beat Fullerton (84-70; 1st game of season) and CSUN (69-63 just before Christmas),
Lost at Gonzaga (52-75 on Dec 30
Stats:
FG: 44% 3PT: 34% FT: 75% Reb: 39/game Assists: 16/game TO: 16/game Steals: 6/game
Score: 71
Opp. Stats:
FG: 38% 3PT: 33% FT: 74% Reb: 35/game Assists: 14/game TO: 14/game Steals: 9/game
Score: 66

UCD Stats:
FG: 41% 3PT: 31% FT: 76% Reb: 39/game Assists: 15/game TO: 15/game Steals: 7/game
Score: 69
Opp. Stats:
FG: 38% 3PT: 32% FT: 72% Reb: 37/game Assists: 11/game TO: 13/game Steals: 9/game
Score: 64

Notes:
About 1/3 of Pepperdine's FG's are 3-pointers, while about 1/2 of UCD's shots are 3 pointers. Pepperdine shoots fewer FT's than their opponents, while UCD shoots more FT's than their opponents.
Pepperdine is 13-3 at home; UCD 9-6 on the road - 12-7 if you count neutral court.
Pepperdine has 3 players who average between 30-32 min/gane; UCD has 4 averaging 31-36 min/game.
Pepperdine average attendance: 334; UCD average attendance: 963 (609 if Idaho game - Field Trip Day - attendance not included)

Both teams are remarkably even statistically.

You would have thought that we could have come up with $5000-$10,000 to host especially since the women have a strong, dedicated, community fan base. We average 963 per game many of which are not students. I think the revenue from tickets sales alone would have covered a lot of our cost to host the game and we wouldn't have the travel, food and lodging costs either.

Of the players on the Pepperdine roster, 3 of 12 are grad transfers; 4 others are undergrad transfers. 8 of 12 are from out of country, 3 from Australia. All 5 starters and 2 of 3 primary subs are transfers.
Starters are Guards: 5'6' Maria Sta, 5'11 Ellie Guiney, 5'10" Meghan Fiso, 6'2" Lina Falk & Forward 6'1" Shorna Preston
Primary subs are Guards 5'10" Selah Harmon, 6'0" Bella Green, and 5'10" Ivory Finley

Leading scorers are Guiney (14.0), Falk (11.7) and Fish (11.2).
Leading rebounders are Preston (8.4), Green (5.6) and Fish (4.9)
Sta & Guiney average 3 assists each.

we may have and the committee went with Pepperdine for some other reason.