Box Score

PROVO, Utah --- The BYU Cougars led by 13 points at the half before cruising to a 76-55 win over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at the Marriott Center. Sophomore Cassandra Brown led the Pilots with 14 points.
 
Natalie Day just missed a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
After trailing by 13 at the break, the Pilots briefly climbed within 11 points when Amy Pupa opened the second half with a lay-up. But that’s as close as Portland would get as BYU would soon stretch the lead to 20 points. The Cougars would eventually lead by 25 points with 7:23 left.
 
BYU had three players in double figures, led by Lexi Eaton with 16. Jennifer Hamson had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Haley Steed handed out 10 assists.
 
It’s the third time this season to lead UP in scoring for Brown, who is averaging 12.3 points per game against WCC opponents.
 
BYU shot 43 percent for the game, while holding Portland to 33 percent shooting. The Cougars hit nine three-pointers and went 9-for-13 at the free throw line, while the Pilots connected on six three’s and were 13 of 16 at the line. UP had 18 turnovers to BYU’s 10, and the Cougars out-rebounded the Pilots 42-37.
 
Portland led early 3-2 after Brown hit a corner three-pointer, but the Cougars got a lay-up from Kristen Riley to give BYU the lead, which would soon stretch to double figures. After the Pilots pulled within 10-8 courtesy a tough shot and a free throw from Luttinen, BYU embarked on a 23-9 run to claim a 16-point lead with 4:30 left in the first half.
 
The Pilots would cut the lead to 10 on a three-pointer from Day, and the Cougars would settle for a 41-28 advantage at the break. Kari Luttinen had eight points to lead Portland in the first half.
 
The Pilots next return home to host the Loyola Marymount Lions next Saturday at the Chiles Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.