STOCKTON, Calif—It was a back-and-forth game in the Spanos Center, but a dominating fourth quarter would lead Pacific women's basketball (2-1) to a 66-59 victory over Yale (0-5) on Tuesday.
 
With the win, the Tigers are now 3-0 on their home court for the first time since 2019.
 
Junior Anaya James led the way with a season-high 20 points and three steals while recording a game-high five assists. Junior Elizabeth Elliott notched her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career with a season-high 14 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Liz Smith finished in double figures for the fourth time this season and recorded a career-high three blocks.
 
There were six ties and 11 lead changes throughout the contest.
 
After Yale took a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, Pacific responded in the second as it scored 21 points while holding its opponent to only 12. Smith was fouled at the 7:56 mark and drained two free throws which sparked a 9-2 run. Graduate student Madelene Ennis tied the game on a second-chance layup before James got a steal and scored on the fast break to give Pacific a 23-21 lead with 5:40 left.
 
The Bulldogs came within one twice, but a three from Smith would keep the Tigers in front, 33-29, at halftime.
 
Yale came out of the gate at the start of the third, outscoring Pacific, 17-8. The Bulldogs tallied seven unanswered points to take a 37-35 lead at the 5:08 mark. A three from James and a fast break layup from Ennis put the Tigers back up by three, 40-37. Yale went on a 12-0 run in the final two minutes which gave them a 46-41 advantage over Pacific.
 
The Bulldogs extended their lead at the start of the fourth with a free throw and fast break layup. A second chance basket from James at 6:45 sparked a 13-2 run, the largest Tiger scoring run that put the home team back up by three, 54-51. Yale cut the score by one with under three minutes left. Back-to-back baskets by James and a jumper from Elliot helped the Tigers stay ahead, 60-53.
 
Despite Yale cutting it close as the clock ticked down, Pacific put the icing on the cake with a perfect six-of-six from the free-throw line. The Tigers would end up outscoring the Bulldogs, 25-13, in the fourth.
 
Twelve of Pacific's points came on the fast break and 15 of them were from the charity stripe.
 
"We knew it was gonna be a tough test," said head coach Bradley Davis. "Yale, we knew they were technically 0-3 coming in, but they're a good team. They've had a really tough schedule. I don't think we could have started the second half any worse than we did. I think we were one-of-10 and came out and responded really well. And then I thought especially so in the fourth quarter."
 
Up next, the Tigers host the Tiger Turkey Tip-Off. Pacific plays its first game in the tournament against Butler at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.