SEATTLE (Interstat) — Lina Falk scored 25 points and Pepperdine used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Seattle, securing an 81-67 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Redhawk Center.

The Waves, who led by just a single point at halftime, outscored the Redhawks 26-12 in the pivotal third period to turn a tight contest into a comfortable road win. Pepperdine improved to 19-11 on the season, while Seattle fell to 5-23.

The game was a tale of contrasting offensive efficiency. Pepperdine scored its 81 points on 76 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 107.3. Seattle, meanwhile, managed only 67 points on 77 possessions for a rating of 86.8. The Waves’ advantage was built largely from beyond the arc, where they connected on 11 of 25 attempts compared to Seattle’s 5-for-22 shooting from three-point range.

Seattle started brightly, taking a 23-15 lead after the first quarter behind early contributions from Jana Vesic and Andjela Bigovic. The Redhawks’ lead grew to nine points early in the second quarter. Pepperdine, however, closed the first half on a 15-4 run, capped by a Taija Sta. Maria three-pointer at the buzzer, to take a 38-37 lead into the break.

The third quarter belonged entirely to the visitors. Falk, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Wolfsburg, Germany, ignited the decisive run. She hit a trio of three-pointers in the period, part of her game-high 25-point effort on 9-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-11 from deep. Her third triple of the quarter pushed the Pepperdine lead to 54-45 with 3:37 remaining. The Waves’ defense stifled Seattle, forcing six turnovers in the quarter and holding the Redhawks to just 5-of-15 shooting from the field. By the time the period ended, Pepperdine’s lead had ballooned to 64-49.

Seattle never threatened in the fourth quarter, as Pepperdine maintained at least a 12-point cushion throughout the final frame. The Waves’ backcourt control was evident, as they recorded nine assists to Seattle’s five and notched nine steals while committing only 11 turnovers.

Elli Guiney provided strong support for Pepperdine with 16 points, two assists and a block. Sta. Maria, from Toronto, directed the offense with nine points and a game-high five assists. Seleh Harmon added 11 points off the bench.

For Seattle, Vesic, a guard from Belgrade, Serbia, led the way with 16 points, playing all 40 minutes. Bigovic, a 6-5 post from Herceg Novi, Montenegro, finished with 15 points but was hampered by seven turnovers. Chloe Emanga and Ella Brubaker each scored 11 points for the Redhawks.

The most important sequence of the game was Pepperdine’s closing run to end the first half, which shifted momentum entirely, followed by their explosive third-quarter performance. After struggling to contain Seattle’s early offensive flow, the Waves tightened their defense and found their shooting rhythm. Falk’s consecutive three-pointers early in the third extended the lead and forced Seattle into a pressing, uncomfortable style that led to mistakes. This stretch transformed a narrow halftime edge into a commanding double-digit lead from which the Redhawks could not recover, effectively deciding the contest long before the final buzzer.

Pepperdine has now won four of its last five games. Seattle has lost four straight and 10 of its last 11. An announced crowd of 658 attended the game at Redhawk Center.

The victory completed a season sweep for Pepperdine, which defeated Seattle 90-63 in Malibu on Jan. 29.