SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- Portland senior Cassandra Brown scored 24 points and the Pilots led big in the first half, but the Cal Poly Mustangs rallied for a 76-67 come-from-behind victory in a non-conference women's basketball game at the Mott Athletics Center on Sunday. Senior Jasmine Wooton added 19 points for the Pilots (0-3).
 
Brown scored 13 early points to help the Pilots jump out to a double-digit lead in the first half. Portland was also stingy defensively, holding the Mustangs without a point for more than eight minutes.
 
Cal Poly's (2-1) scoring drought helped the Pilots make a 15-4 run and claim a 33-19 lead with 3:20 remaining in the half. Wooton hit a three-pointer during the surge and senior Kari Luttinen converted a nice runner down the lane.
 
But Portland would run into foul trouble, getting whistled for 16 first-half fouls, allowing the Mustangs to mount a comeback. Cal Poly ended the half on a 16-5 run to pull within one before freshman Ashley Gray hit a last-second lay-up to allow the Pilots to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
 
The Mustangs then began the second half by scoring the first seven points and would eventually take a 51-44 lead. The Pilots responded by scoring eight straight points, which was capped by a Cassandra Thompson lay-up off a nice feed from Brown. Cal Poly then hit a three-pointer at the other end, which was answered by a Luttinen three to make the score 55-54 in Portland's favor with 12:23 left.
 
But Cal Poly didn't falter and would soon build a 10-point lead. With 6:47 remaining, Lynn Leaupepe gave the Mustangs a 65-55 lead with a lay-up. Portland briefly cut the deficit to seven, courtesy an angle three by Brown, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to 11 with 4:12 showing on the clock.
 
The Pilots did climb within six after a pair of free throws from Luttinen with 90 seconds left, but the Mustangs would hold on for the win.
 
Brown shot 10 of 17 overall and knocked down four three-pointers. Wooton was a perfect six-for-six from the foul line en route to a season-high in points. Luttinen overcame foul trouble to score 12 points, while Thompson, a senior, chipped in with nine points.
 
Ariana Elegado led three Mustangs to score in double figures with 19 points.
 
After going ice cold during the first half, the Mustangs recovered to shoot 45 percent (27-for-60) for the game. They hit six three's and were 16-for-26 on free throws. Portland shot 40.7 percent (24-for-59) overall, also connected on six three-pointers and went 13-for-16 from the foul line.
 
Cal Poly out-rebounded the Pilots 43-32.
 
The Pilots next head to Reno, Nev., to face the Nevada Wolfpack at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Nugget Classic. Portland will then face either Utah or Ole Miss on Saturday, depending on the outcome of the two games on Friday.