SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — In a West Coast Conference clash defined by contrasting styles, the San Francisco Dons used a dominant third-quarter surge and a stellar performance from Candy Edokpaigbe to defeat the Pepperdine Waves 81-70 in women’s basketball on Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium.

The game pitted Pepperdine’s disruptive, turnover-forcing defense against San Francisco’s efficient, high-percentage offense. The Dons’ approach ultimately prevailed, as they weathered an aggressive Waves squad before pulling away after halftime in front of 304 fans.

San Francisco established control early, leading 17-10 after a first quarter where Pepperdine struggled to find its shooting touch. The Waves stayed within striking distance in the second, trailing 32-23 at the break, largely by forcing 12 first-half turnovers from the Dons. Pepperdine’s defense, which finished with 14 steals, created transition opportunities but the team could not convert consistently, shooting just 10 for 33 from the field in the half.

The decisive shift came in the third quarter. San Francisco’s offense, which had been steady, erupted for 32 points. The Dons shot a blistering 12 for 18 from the field in the period, efficiently dismantling the Pepperdine defense. They consistently worked the ball inside, outscoring the Waves 40-20 in the paint for the game, and capitalized on their limited mistakes. This offensive explosion turned an 11-point halftime advantage into a commanding 64-51 lead entering the final quarter.

Pepperdine mounted a final challenge in the fourth, cutting the deficit to six points on several occasions. A 3-pointer by Seleh Harmon made it 68-62 with 7:47 remaining, but the Waves could get no closer. San Francisco answered each push, often through Edokpaigbe or timely baskets from its international-laden roster, to secure the victory.

The statistical disparity told the story of the game. San Francisco won with remarkable offensive efficiency, shooting 52.6% from the field on 30 of 57 shooting. Pepperdine, meanwhile, was hampered by a 27.9% shooting night, making just 19 of 68 attempts. The Waves attempted 30 more free throws, making 24, and won the turnover battle decisively, forcing 21 San Francisco giveaways while committing only seven. They also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds to the Dons’ five. However, San Francisco’s superior shot-making and a 32-9 advantage in assists negated those extra possessions.

Edokpaigbe, a guard from Naples, Italy, led all scorers with 28 points, adding three assists in 38 minutes. She was the focal point of the Dons’ attack, scoring from all three levels. She was supported by Aina Cargol of Olot, Spain, who orchestrated the offense with eight assists and 11 points. Sol Castro of Argentina contributed 10 points off the bench, and Mara Neira of Spain had 11 points and five assists.

For Pepperdine, the scoring load was shared by three players. Bella Green of Perth, Australia, led the Waves with 17 points, while Meghan Fiso of Seattle scored 18 and Elli Guiney of Goodyear, Arizona, added 16. Lina Falk of Germany provided 10 points and a key block.

With the win, San Francisco evened its conference footing, improving to 15-10 overall. Pepperdine fell to 15-11. The victory was a rebound for the Dons, who had lost their previous game to Saint Mary’s, while the Waves were looking to bounce back from a loss to Loyola Marymount.

The most important part of the game was San Francisco’s third-quarter offensive clinic. Facing a Pepperdine team that was hanging around through sheer defensive will, the Dons elevated their execution to another level. Their 32-point quarter on 66.7% shooting was a model of efficient offense, effectively deciding the contest by building an insurmountable 13-point lead. It was a period that highlighted their offensive strengths—ball movement, interior scoring, and taking care of the ball—and ultimately proved too much for Pepperdine’s valiant but off-target effort to overcome.

San Francisco next travels to face Pacific on Thursday. Pepperdine returns home to host San Diego on the same night.