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SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Portland's Amy Pupa and Cassandra Brown both scored 17 points and the Pilots nearly completed a second-half comeback, but the San Diego Toreros would hold on to win 59-52 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The loss drops Portland's record to 14-12 (7-8 WCC), while San Diego improves to 20-6 (9-6 WCC).
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Down nine at the half, Portland pulled within five points a couple of times early in the second half. But San Diego seemingly had an answer each time, eventually pushing their lead to 50-40 with just under eight minutes remaining.
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That's when Brown heated up from the field, making lay-ups, a three-pointer and a mid-range jumper to help the Pilots claw back into the game. During one stretch Brown scored nine of Portland's 10 points to help the Pilots climb within 54-50 with about 1:45 left to play.
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After a made San Diego free throw moments later, Brown found a cutting Cassandra Thompson for a lay-up, and the deficit was only three points with 1:25 remaining.
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But the Toreros would make enough free throws down the stretch, got a timely offensive rebound by Sophia Ederine and forced a key Portland turnover in the closing minutes to preserve the win.
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Both Pupa and Brown shot seven of 10 from the field, while Pupa hit all three of her three-point attempts. Pupa was also Portland's top rebounder with seven boards.
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Amy Kame led the Toreros with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Molina Hood added 17 points.
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Free throws were decidedly in San Diego's favor the Toreros were 15-for-25 and Portland was just 3-for-5. USD shot 41.7 percent overall and connected on four three's, all by Hood. Portland shot 42 percent and hit five three-pointers.
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The Pilots looked good to start the game after Pupa hit a lay-up and a baseline jumper to give Portland an early 4-0 lead. But it was all San Diego after that as the Toreros were able to jump ahead, thanks to four three-pointers by Hood. Her fourth three of the first half gave San Diego a 25-9 lead with about five minutes left.
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But that's when the Pilots re-grouped offensively and were able to knock down some shots. Jasmine Wooton hit a lay-up and a three, while Pupa also connected from long range to help the Pilots pull within 30-21 at the half.
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The Pilots will remain on the road next week when they travel to Spokane, Wash., for a WCC tilt against Gonzaga on Saturday. It's the final regular season road game for the Pilots, and tip-off at the McCarthey Center is set for 2 p.m.