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PORTLAND, Ore. --- After trailing by 16 at the break, the Portland Pilots climbed within single digits of Pacific late in the second half, but the Tigers would prevail 70-57 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Kari Luttinen led the way with 13 points for the Pilots (14-14, 7-10 WCC), who close the regular season at home on Saturday against Saint Mary's.
 
It's the fifth straight win for the Tigers (17-10, 12-5), who used a barrage of three-pointers to build on their 33-17 halftime lead. Pacific claimed their biggest lead of the evening when a lay-up from Marjorie Heard made it 52-29 with 13:31 left to play.
 
The Pilots tried to answer and were within 14 moments later after a three-point play by Luttinen. The deficit was then only 13 after Amy Pupa hit a short jumper from the lane to cap a 17-7 Portland run.
 
Pacific was able to then push the lead back up to 18 points with 5:30 left in regulation, but again Portland tried to respond. This time the Pilots were able to cut the deficit to nine points with an 11-2 spurt. Cassandra Thompson hit a big three-pointer from the top of the key, and Luttinen pulled the Pilots within 66-57 with a pair of free throws and 2:33 remaining.
 
Portland then forced a turnover, but the Pilots were unable to capitalize at the other end as Luttinen couldn't convert a tough lay-in with 2:02 showing on the clock.
 
From there the Tigers made enough free throws and made a couple of stops down the stretch to seal the win.
 
The Pilots held the Tigers to just 36 percent (24-for-66) shooting on the night, but Pacific did hit 11 three-pointers and out-scored Portland 26-4 in second-chance points.  The Pilots shot 47 percent (21-for-45), but were just two of 11 at the foul line.
 
KiKi Moore's double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds) helped Pacific claim a 45-27 edge on rebounds, and Kendall Kenyon led four Tigers in double figures with a game-high 17 points.
 
Portland featured a balanced scoring attack as Luttinen was the only Pilot to reach double digits in points. Thompson, Jasmine Wooton and Hannah Mattson each scored nine points, while Cassandra Brown had seven off the bench.
 
Thompson was Portland's top rebounder with seven boards, and the junior forward swatted away a career-high five shots. She's the first Pilot to record five blocks in a game since Alexis Gannis also had five blocks during a game in December of 2010.
 
Next up for the Pilots are the Gaels, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. Saturday marks the final regular season home game for long-time Portland head coach Jim Sollars, who will retire at the end of the season after 28 years at the helm of the Pilots.
 
UP will also celebrate senior day on Saturday.