Box Score  I  Video Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior Amy Pupa had 19 rebounds, freshman Ellen Nurmi scored 12 points and the Pilots held on in the second half for a 57-51 win over the Pepperdine Waves in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball played on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Pupa’s 19 boards are a career high and they missed matching a UP program record by one.
 
The 19 boards are also the most by a Pilot since Natalie Day had the same amount during a game in November of 2011. Sara Green holds Portland’s single-game record at the NCAA DI level, which she set back in 1998 when she pulled down 20 rebounds.
 
Against the Waves, the Pilots (8-13, 3-5 WCC) were able to build a sizable lead early. Portland opened the game on a 15-2 run, which was capped by a three-pointer from freshman Annika Holopainen. The lead would grow to 17, courtesy a jumper from Holopainen, a three by Nurmi and a pair of free throws from junior Alexis Byrd, which made it a 22-5 game with nine minutes left in the first half.
 
And then just before the break, sophomore Cassandra Thompson gave Portland its biggest lead when her lay-up pushed the score to 29-11. Pepperdine’s Grace Baughn would follow with a jumper to make it a 29-13 game at the half.
 
The Waves (4-15, 1-7 WCC) came out aggressively in the second half on both ends of the court and nearly came all the way back. With 6:18 showing on the clock, Kelsey Brockway hit a baseline jumper to pull Pepperdine within four points. But the Pilots would stretch the lead back to 10 points after sophomore Jasmine Wooton followed three Portland free throws with a three-pointer to make it 47-37 with 3:47 remaining.
 
From there the Pilots would hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Portland finished 23 of 31 at the foul line, and Pupa’s big night on the glass helped the Pilots claim an advantage in both total rebounds (49-37) and second chance points (15-8).
 
This marks the third straight game to score in double figures for Nurmi and it’s the sixth time this season to lead the Pilots in scoring. Wooton added 10 points, Thompson finished with nine points and eight rebounds and sophomore Kari Luttinen dished a career-high five assists.
 
Bria Richardson had 11 points off the bench to lead the Waves.
 
The Pilots next look to push their mild winning streak to three when they host the Loyola Marymount Lions on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off at the Chiles Center is set for 2 p.m.