SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — The Gonzaga Bulldogs used a dominant third-quarter surge and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from the Pepperdine Waves for a 75-52 victory in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center.

A crowd of 4,980 saw the Bulldogs improve to 10-5 overall, while Pepperdine fell to 9-5.

The game was tightly contested for the first 20 minutes. Gonzaga led 14-11 after a first quarter defined by early turnovers from both sides. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 33-22 by halftime, but Pepperdine guard Taija Sta. Maria kept the Waves within striking distance, scoring 10 of her team-high 16 points in the first half.

The most important part of the game arrived immediately after halftime. Gonzaga came out of the locker room with renewed defensive intensity and offensive precision, opening the third quarter on a 22-10 run to break the game open. The Bulldogs outscored the Waves 22-13 in the period, turning an 11-point halftime advantage into a commanding 55-35 lead entering the final quarter.

Gonzaga’s decisive run was fueled by its interior presence and ball movement. Forward Jaiden Haile of Fargo, North Dakota, was instrumental during the stretch, scoring 10 of her 21 points in the third quarter. Her work in the paint, combined with the outside shooting of guard Allie Turner, who finished with 17 points, overwhelmed the Pepperdine defense. The Bulldogs’ lead never dipped below 18 points in the fourth quarter as they cruised to the conference win.

Lauren Whittaker, a 6-foot-3 forward from Christchurch, New Zealand, led all scorers with 22 points for Gonzaga, adding efficiency by making nine of her 12 field goal attempts. Haile complemented her 21 points with three assists, while Turner’s 17 points included four assists. Forward Taylor Smith of Pocatello, Idaho, provided a well-rounded performance with eight points, four assists and a blocked shot.

For Pepperdine, Sta. Maria, a 5-foot-6 guard from Toronto, was the primary offensive threat, logging 34 minutes and contributing two assists to her 16 points. Forward Shorna Preston, also from Christchurch, New Zealand, added six points and two blocks. The Waves struggled to find consistent scoring outside of Sta. Maria, with their next highest contributors, Irune Orio and Ilinca Belegante, each finishing with six points.

Gonzaga’s defense was a key factor, forcing 19 Pepperdine turnovers and converting them into 21 points. The Bulldogs also dominated points in the paint, outscoring the Waves 44 to 24. Pepperdine shot just 34% from the field for the game, while Gonzaga connected on 49% of its attempts.

The victory gives Gonzaga momentum as it heads into the heart of its conference schedule. The Bulldogs, who were projected as overwhelming favorites by advanced metrics, will travel to face Seattle on Friday. Pepperdine, which has lost two straight after a narrow defeat at Washington State on Sunday, looks to rebound at home against Saint Mary’s on Friday.