By By Nick Pipitone

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

While some members of the team took Pepperdine’s decision to face them in the first round of the Thanksgiving Classic this past weekend as a sign of disrespect, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack did not quite see it the same way.

“I hope [the University of Massachusetts] fuels them in a strange kind of way to make them play as well,” Jack said, referring to tonight’s game against UMass. “I look at it as we’re going to compete against anyone that schedules us and hopefully we respect them enough to give them a good challenge.”

SLOW AND STEADY

In her first four games back from an off-season leg injury, senior forward Amaka Agugua has been making progress. Thus far, the Virginia native has started in two games and averaged 25.3 minutes, 6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Still working her way back from leg surgery, Agugua has also been increasing her stamina, according to Jack.

In two games over the weekend, Agugua averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds.

BASKETBALL 90210

With the Pepperdine Thanksgiving Classic being held in Malibu, Calif., this past weekend, the team was able to go out and enjoy the mid-November California Sun on its downtime. The Pride hit the beaches, most notably Venice Beach, and was given time to spend with its families over the holiday on its brief visit.

Jack, however, did not join them. The coach said she was watching film on UMass before the team even left for New York.

“My free time is hopefully going to be celebration in March going towards the NCAAs,” she said. “Free time? I don’t want free time until March.”

REBOUNDS?

The Pride’s rebounding struggles in its 13-point loss to the University of Kentucky had more to do with its own technique rather the Wildcats imposing size. Kentucky was the bigger team, with three players over six-foot-three, but as any basketball fan knows, size is not the main factor in rebounding.

“It was totally uncharacteristic of our team,” junior forward Lizanne Murphy said about being out-rebounded. “Against bigger teams we can’t just jump with them, we have to really focus on boxing them out first so that you ensure the rebound and then go get it.”