STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant performance in the paint and a double-double from Lauren Whittaker propelled the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a decisive 85-70 victory over the Pacific Tigers in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at the A.C. Spanos Center.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 21-8 overall, leveraged a massive 40-12 advantage in points in the paint and a 12-4 edge in offensive rebounds to control the game’s interior. This interior dominance translated to efficient offense, as Gonzaga scored 85 points on 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 116.0, far outpacing Pacific’s 98.2 rating on 71 possessions.

The most important part of the game was Gonzaga’s consistent ability to answer any Pacific push with immediate scoring, often generated through defensive pressure and transition play. The Bulldogs forced 14 Pacific turnovers, converting them into 22 points, and their 10 steals disrupted the Tigers’ offensive flow throughout the contest.

Whittaker, a 6-foot-3 forward from Christchurch, New Zealand, led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. Her presence inside was pivotal, helping Gonzaga shoot 48.2 percent from the field while holding Pacific to 40.4 percent shooting.

Pacific, which fell to 11-16, was led by a stellar individual effort from guard Sydney Ward. The Houston native poured in a game-high 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting, adding six rebounds. Ward’s scoring kept the Tigers within striking distance for stretches, but Pacific could not find consistent secondary scoring or stop Gonzaga’s multifaceted attack.

Gonzaga guard Ines Bettencourt of Sao Miguel, Portugal, orchestrated the offense with 13 points and a game-high seven assists. Her backcourt mate, Allie Turner of St. Louis, Missouri, added 12 points. The Bulldogs’ depth was on full display as Jaiden Haile of Fargo, North Dakota, contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while Julia Wilson of Temecula, California, chipped in seven points off the bench.

For Pacific, Stella Szabo of Stockholm, Sweden, scored nine points and recorded two blocks, and Winner Bartholomew of Abuja, Nigeria, added nine points.

The Bulldogs set the tone early, building a lead and maintaining it despite Ward’s first-quarter scoring burst. Gonzaga led 19-12 after one quarter and extended the margin to 35-33 by halftime. A key sequence came in the third quarter when, after a three-pointer from Pacific’s Szabo cut the lead to 38-35, Gonzaga responded with a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Turner to re-establish a double-digit cushion. The Bulldogs never let the lead slip below eight points in the final period, methodically pulling away at the free-throw line, where they made 25 of 28 attempts.

Gonzaga’s victory completed a regular-season sweep of the Tigers, having won the previous meeting 72-44 in Spokane on Feb. 7. The Bulldogs have now won two straight conference games following a loss to Loyola Marymount.

Pacific struggled to match Gonzaga’s physicality and ball movement, finishing with only four assists as a team compared to Gonzaga’s 10. The Tigers also sent Gonzaga to the line frequently, committing 24 fouls.

The game was played before an announced crowd at the A.C. Spanos Center. Gonzaga next hosts Saint Mary’s on Thursday before traveling to face Portland on Saturday. Pacific continues its homestand, hosting San Diego on Thursday and Santa Clara on Saturday.