STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Pacific women’s basketball team to a 90-82 upset victory over Santa Clara in a West Coast Conference matchup Thursday night at the A.C. Spanos Center.

The Tigers, entering the game as significant underdogs, erased a narrow halftime deficit with a 32-point explosion in the third period, flipping the game’s momentum decisively. Pacific improved its season record to 9-13 overall, while the Broncos, who had been projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics, fell to 18-7.

The game’s pivotal sequence came after halftime. Santa Clara held a slim 34-32 lead at the break, but Pacific opened the third quarter on a 14-5 run to seize control. The Tigers’ offensive efficiency was staggering in the period, shooting 10 of 15 from the floor and 4 of 7 from three-point range. Their 116.4 offensive rating for the game, fueled by that quarter, far outpaced Santa Clara’s 107.2.

Pacific’s Sydney Ward, a 6-foot guard from Houston, was the catalyst, scoring 27 points to lead all players. She was instrumental in the third-quarter run, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. Ward’s performance was complemented by Sophia Mindermann of Folsom, who added 19 points, including three three-pointers, and dished out two assists.

Santa Clara was led by the duo of Maia Jones and Ashley Hawkins. Jones, from Tasman, New Zealand, scored a team-high 24 points, largely from the free throw line where she went 14 of 18, and grabbed eight rebounds. Hawkins, from Long Beach, contributed 18 points and six assists. Ava Schmidt of Sammamish, Washington, added 19 points for the Broncos.

Despite the loss, Santa Clara battled, particularly on the offensive glass where they held a commanding 17-7 advantage, leading to 19 second-chance points. The Broncos also scored 36 points in the paint. However, their shooting struggles proved insurmountable. Santa Clara shot just 35.4% from the field and a frigid 14.8% from beyond the arc, making only 4 of 27 attempts.

Pacific, by contrast, was efficient from all levels, shooting 49.2% from the floor and 41.7% from three-point range. The Tigers also took excellent care of the ball in the second half, finishing with 13 turnovers to Santa Clara’s nine, and capitalized at the free throw line, making 22 of 26 attempts.

The game began tightly, with Santa Clara taking an 18-16 lead after the first quarter. The Broncos extended their lead to four points early in the second quarter before Pacific closed the gap to two at halftime. The Tigers’ third-quarter eruption, however, created a 64-58 lead heading into the final period. Santa Clara managed to tie the game briefly in the fourth quarter, but Pacific answered every challenge, maintaining its composure and shooting accuracy down the stretch to secure the eight-point victory.

Key support for Pacific came from Winner Bartholomew of Abuja, Nigeria, who had 15 points, three assists and a block, and Daria Nestorov of Zrenjanin, Serbia, who orchestrated the offense with seven assists. Liv Yergensen and Nyah Lowery each chipped in 10 points for the Tigers.

The announced attendance at the A.C. Spanos Center was 617.

Santa Clara will look to rebound on the road at Oregon State on Feb. 12. Pacific, riding the momentum of its biggest win of the conference season, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Gonzaga on Saturday.