Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore guard and reigning WCC Player of the Week Kari Luttinen scored a game-high 22 points and the Pilots clamped down defensively to claim a 68-49 win over the Oregon Ducks on Friday afternoon at the Chiles Center. It’s the fourth straight win for the Pilots, who improve to 5-7 overall.
 
It’s also the second straight game during which the Pilots held their opponents below 50 points, and it marks the lowest point total this season for Oregon (2-9).
 
The up-tempo Ducks looked good early in the first half and jumped out to a seven-point lead six minutes into the game. But the Pilots responded with a 23-7 run and sophomore Jasmine Wooton gave the Pilots their first lead when she buried a three-pointer, while getting fouled in the process. Wooton hit the free throw for the rare four-point play to give Portland a 19-17 edge.
 
Portland’s lead would eventually stretch to nine, with the help of a three-pointer from junior guard Alexis Byrd, and the Pilots entered the half-time locker room with a cozy 10-point advantage. Luttinen, who scored 15 first-half points, ended the half with a jumper to make it 45-35 in Portland’s favor.
 
After both teams opened the second half a little cold from the field, the Ducks were able to string together a couple of three-pointers from Jordan Loera to pull within 49-46 with 12:31 remaining.
 
But the Portland defense would take over from there, holding the Ducks to just three points the rest of the way. Meanwhile the UP offense scored nine straight points and would end the game on a 19-3 run.
 
Freshman Ellen Nurmi capped the 9-0 run with a tough lay-up across the lane to make it a 58-46 game, and Luttinen scored seven points during the game-ending outburst.
 
Luttinen hit three three-pointers on the day and she scored more than 20 points for the second time this season. Portland freshman Annika Holopainen joined Luttinen in double digits with 10 points, but the Pilots used a fairly balanced offensive attack to defeat the Ducks. Both Byrd and Wooton scored nine points, and Wooten handed out a career-high six assists.
 
Junior Amy Pupa led the Pilots on the glass with a team-high eight boards, while Byrd and sophomore Cassandra Thompson were also effective in the paint as both finished with seven rebounds.
 
The Pilots turned the ball over a season-low 10 times, while 16 Portland steals helped lead to 25 miscues for Oregon. The Pilots converted their strong defense into a 24-3 edge in points off of turnovers and Luttinen matched a career high with five steals.
 
Oregon, which shot 32.1 percent (17-for-53) from the floor, was led offensive by Ariel Thomas (12 points) and Loera (10 points). The Ducks were nine of 10 at the foul line and connected on six three-pointers.
 
Portland finished 24-for-71 (33.8 percent) from the field, combined for nine three’s and hit 11 free throws. The Pilots also claimed a 24-8 advantage in fast break points, but the Ducks held a slim 43-42 edge in rebounds.
 
The Pilots next take a week off before returning to the Chiles Center floor next Saturday when they host Portland State on Dec. 29. Tip-off for the Pilots and Vikings is set for 5:15 p.m. and the game is the first half of a double header with the Portland men.