Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Freshman Annika Holopainen scored 29 points, sophomore Kari Luttinen added 20 and the Pilots made a late second-half run against San Francisco, but the Dons would hold on for an 88-81 win in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Gym. Sophomore Jasmine Wooton battled foul trouble to finish with 17 points for the Pilots, who nearly came all the way back from a 23-point second-half deficit.
 
After Portland (5-11, 0-3 WCC) cut the lead down to 10 points courtesy back-to-back jumpers from Luttinen with about eight minutes remaining, the Dons were able to push their lead back to 16.
 
The Pilots still had one final run left in the tank as they embarked on a 16-2 outburst that made it just a two-point game with 3:00 showing on the clock. Seven straight points by Luttinen pulled the Pilots within single digits, and Ellen Nurmi buried a big-time step-back three-pointer that brought the Pilots within 81-79, the closest they’d been since midway through the first half.
 
The Dons then stretched the lead back to six points with about a minute left, but again the Pilots refused to go away. After Wooton cut the deficit to four with a pair of free throws, the point guard appeared to have a chance at a three-point play when she hit a lay-up while getting fouled with just 26 seconds left. But the call went against her to wipe out the basket, and the Dons sealed the win at the foul line.
 
The 29 points are easily a career-high for Holopainen, who shot a remarkable 13-for-17 from the field. The native of Helsinki, Finland, scored 17 points during the first half and she finished with five rebounds.
 
Luttinen overcame a quiet first half to reach the 20-point plateau for the third time this season. She also led the way on the glass with a team-high eight rebounds. Wooton matched a career high in points and was a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line.
 
Mel Khlok scored 27 points and was one of four Dons (8-9, 1-3 WCC) in double figures.
 
The Pilots (32-for-76) actually made seven more field goals than the Dons (25-for-55), but San Francisco was awarded an eye-opening 43 free throw attempts. The Dons connected on 30 of those free throws, while the Pilots were just 11 of 17 from the foul line.
 
The Pilots next return home to host the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Monday night at the Chiles Center. Tip-off between the Northwest rivals is set for 7 p.m.