{"id":627141,"date":"2026-04-24T04:31:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T04:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/627141\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T04:31:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T04:31:12","slug":"womens-basketball-junior-guard-turns-transfer-into-triumph-in-first-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/627141\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s Basketball Junior Guard Turns Transfer into Triumph in First Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Junior guard Taija Sta. Maria shoots last second to hit the game-winning 3-pointer against UC Davis at Firestone Fieldhouse on March 19. The buzzer-beater advanced the team to the second round of the Women\u2019s National Invitation Tournament, where they would defeat Southern Utah but fall in the Super 16 against South Dakota. Photo by Ava Walton <\/p>\n

Since entering the transfer portal going into her junior year, Taija Sta. Maria<\/a> has quickly become a key contributor as a guard for the Pepperdine Women\u2019s Basketball<\/a> team.<\/p>\n

After two successful seasons under Head Coach Jamie White<\/a> at Fresno State<\/a>, Sta. Maria proved early on that she could compete at the Division I level. As a freshman at Fresno, she started all 33 games, averaged 32.5 minutes and earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week three times, along with Mountain West All-Freshman team recognition, according to Fresno State Women\u2019s Basketball<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experience in the two years I had at Fresno was really good,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cI had a lot of great coaches and people around me, and we were successful. I also got to play a lot, which was really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite sitting out 18 games her sophomore year due to injury, Sta. Maria quickly returned to the court, averaging 25 minutes and playing 15 games with six starts. Following her coach\u2019s retirement, she said she entered the transfer portal in search of a new opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationship that I built with her was super strong,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cNot having her at Fresno would have been a lot harder for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sta. Maria said she entered the transfer portal late and was grateful for the opportunity to join the Pepperdine Waves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe culture that Coach Katie<\/a> [Faulkner] has here and the faith aspect of it all really aligned with my values,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cThat\u2019s how I ended up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sta. Maria takes advantage of the open space as she drives down the court against South Dakota\u2019s defense at Firestone Fieldhouse on Dec. 17. The Waves outmatched the Coyotes 73-65, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Photo courtesy of athletics<\/p>\n

In her first season at Pepperdine, Sta. Maria quickly stepped into a leadership role on a roster featuring 12 new players.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a point guard, you kind of just grow up being a leader,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cWhen people think of a leader, they think of someone loud, but I feel like with being quieter I try to do things by example and in the one-on-one relationships that I build with people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sta. Maria said it was because of Head Coach Katie Faulkner\u2019s support and her teammates\u2019 trust that she was able to grow into the role.<\/p>\n

With such a supportive group of teammates, Sta. Maria said she has thrived since arriving at Pepperdine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe girls Katie\u2019s brought in are amazing,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cTalent isn\u2019t the main factor with these girls; they\u2019re all people-first driven. We all have similar values and goals, and I think that\u2019s what helps us get along so well, which obviously shows on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sta. Maria leads the Wave offense, scanning for scoring opportunities against South Dakota\u2019s defense at Firestone Fieldhouse on Dec. 17. Sta. Maria played 33 minutes and contributed 7 points in the team\u2019s win, according to Pepperdine Athletics. Photo courtesy of athletics<\/p>\n

In her first season with the Waves, Sta. Maria started all 34 games and accumulated 1,034 minutes, according to Pepperdine Athletics<\/a>. During the team\u2019s historic run to the Women\u2019s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) <\/a>Super 16, she was a top contributor, playing a total of 35 minutes against UC Davis and 39 minutes against Southern Utah in the tournament\u2019s first rounds.<\/p>\n

With a season full of key performances, Sta. Maria said she experienced a defining moment in her career when she hit a game-winning 3-pointer against UC Davis<\/a> to advance the team to the second round of the WNIT.<\/p>\n

\u201cHitting a game-winning three is a moment that you kind of just dream about,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cIt was a close game, and we knew they were going to be a good team. We weren\u2019t thinking too much about losing but how much we wanted to win, and that\u2019s what helped us fuel our win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sta. Maria said basketball has always been part of her life. From club competition to representing the Canadian National Team<\/a>, she is grateful for the experiences the sport has given her and the people she has met along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been playing basketball since I was like 9 or 10,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cBeing able to represent your country is an accomplishment, and I think the best part about it was the people I did it with and the overall experience. Like being able to play in Mexico and Europe are things that I wouldn\u2019t have done if it wasn\u2019t for basketball, so I\u2019m really grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she enters her senior year, a season that could be her last in college basketball, Sta. Maria said she is embracing the bittersweet moment by focusing on personal growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really easy to get lost in what\u2019s happening in the season,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cBut for me, honestly, it\u2019s just about staying present and really enjoying my last year of college.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the team focused on building confidence and chemistry as new recruits arrive on campus, Sta. Maria said there is one thing she is especially looking forward to next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy little sister is a senior in high school and she\u2019s going to Rice to play basketball in Houston,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cSo something really cool Pepperdine did was schedule a game against Rice next year. We\u2019ll be there for Thanksgiving, and I\u2019m really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sta. Maria said moments like this show how much Pepperdine values family and remind her why transferring to Malibu has been such a blessing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super grateful for all the opportunities and experiences that Pepperdine has brought me and the values that it\u2019s instilled in me,\u201d Sta. Maria said. \u201cBeing here has helped me grow so much. I\u2019m very grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact Genevieve Cantu via email: genevieve.cantu@pepperdine.edu<\/p>\n