STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant first-quarter performance propelled the Pacific women’s basketball team to a decisive victory over Milwaukee on Friday night at the A.C. Spanos Center. The Tigers erupted for 28 points in the opening period, building a lead the Panthers never challenged en route to a 77-48 win in non-conference play.

Pacific established control from the opening tip, scoring the game’s first nine points. Winner Bartholomew, a 6-foot-1 forward from Abuja, Nigeria, was instrumental in the early surge, scoring six of her game-high 17 points in the first five minutes. The Tigers’ offense was both efficient and explosive, shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter while connecting on four three-pointers. By the time the period ended, Pacific held a commanding 28-12 advantage.

The Tigers’ lead ballooned to 45-20 by halftime as their defense consistently stifled Milwaukee’s offensive sets. The Panthers managed just eight points in the second quarter, hampered by cold shooting and 14 total turnovers in the game.

Sydney Ward, a 6-foot guard from Houston, Texas, provided a significant scoring punch for Pacific, finishing with 16 points. Her backcourt mate, Daria Nestorov of Zrenjanin, Serbia, orchestrated the offense with a team-high four assists to go with eight points. The Tigers’ balanced attack also featured 10 points from Luisa Anderegg of Cologne, Germany, and nine points from Sophia Mindermann of Folsom, California.

Milwaukee, which fell to 2-6 overall, never found an offensive rhythm. The Panthers shot a frigid 32 percent from the field and were anemic from beyond the arc, making just two of 17 three-point attempts. Their offensive rating of 72.8 points per 100 possessions underscored the struggles against a disciplined Pacific defense.

Tierney Madigan of Rosendale, Wisconsin, was a bright spot for the Panthers, coming off the bench to score 10 points. Sophia Rampulla of Union Grove, Wisconsin, added seven points for Milwaukee.

After the explosive start, Pacific’s offense cooled but maintained a safe margin throughout the second half. The Tigers led 56-35 after three quarters and cruised to the finish, improving their record to 2-4.

Pacific’s success was built on a foundation of sharp three-point shooting and near-perfect free-throw accuracy. The Tigers made 11 of 28 attempts from long range and connected on 18 of 19 shots from the foul line. Milwaukee, by contrast, made only 14 of its 21 free throw attempts.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 443. Both teams return to the A.C. Spanos Center court on Saturday for their next contests, with Pacific hosting Jacksonville State and Milwaukee facing UC Davis.