MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — Lina Falk erupted for a game-high 25 points, powering the Pepperdine Waves to a decisive 86-68 victory over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Waves, who improved to 12-9 overall, seized control with a dominant third-quarter performance and never looked back, handing the Pilots their second consecutive conference loss and dropping their record to 11-10.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the third period. Leading by just nine points at halftime, Pepperdine unleashed a 26-12 quarter that effectively decided the contest. The Waves’ offense, which had been efficient in the first half, became unstoppable, shooting a blistering 10 for 15 from the floor in the frame. Their defense simultaneously clamped down, holding Portland to just 5-of-17 shooting and forcing six turnovers.

This decisive run transformed a competitive game into a comfortable lead, allowing Pepperdine to enter the final quarter ahead 61-40. The Pilots mounted a spirited 28-point effort in the fourth quarter but never cut the deficit below 15 points as the Waves’ offense, led by Falk, consistently answered every Portland push.

Falk, a 6-foot-2 guard from Wolfsburg, Germany, was the catalyst throughout. She played 36 minutes, adding two assists and three steals to her scoring output, and was a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the arc. Her performance marked a significant bounce-back after scoring just eight points in each of Pepperdine’s previous two games, both narrow losses.

She was complemented by a balanced Waves attack. Elli Guiney of Goodyear, Arizona, contributed 18 points, four assists and three blocks. Meghan Fiso of Seattle and Bella Green of Perth, Australia, each added 15 points, with Green doing so off the bench in just 19 minutes. Taija Sta Maria of Toronto chipped in eight points and five assists.

Portland was led by Ella Zimmerman of Redondo Beach, California, who scored 18 points. Jada Kennedy added 10 points and two blocks off the bench for the Pilots, who struggled with their shooting all afternoon. Portland finished the game shooting just 37.5% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Pepperdine, by contrast, shot 55.4% overall and 42.1% from deep.

The game began with Pepperdine establishing a narrow 17-15 lead after a back-and-forth first quarter. The Waves extended their advantage to 35-28 by halftime, setting the stage for the game-breaking third quarter.

The victory was a notable one for Pepperdine, as it came against a Portland team that, according to Interstat’s ELO system, had entered the game with an 87.2% probability to win. The Waves also won the battle of efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 106.8 points per 100 possessions compared to Portland’s 82.9.

An announced crowd of 388 at Firestone Fieldhouse saw Pepperdine improve its home record and gain momentum in conference play. Portland, which had won three of its last four prior to this two-game Southern California road trip, will look to regroup at home next week.

Pepperdine next hosts Seattle on Thursday. Portland returns home to face Saint Mary’s, also on Thursday.