PORTLAND, Ore. --- Weber State's Regina Okoye hit a go-ahead lay-up with four seconds remaining and the Wildcats came through with a defensive stop at the other end to escape the Chiles Center with a 57-55 win over the Portland Pilots in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Friday evening. Okoye's game-winner was needed after the Pilots scored five straight points during the final 90 seconds to tie the score.
 
Trailing 55-50 with only 1:14 showing on the clock, Portland's (2-4) Ashley Gray converted a nice turn-around jumper down low to pull the Pilots within three. And then after a Weber State (4-1) turnover, Holly Blades went down the lane for a tough lay-up to make it a one-point game with only 45 seconds remaining.
 
Portland then came through defensively on the ensuing possession, forcing another Wildcat turnover before calling a timeout. Coming out of the TO, Kaylie Van Loo drove to the hoop, drawing a foul to send her to the line with a chance to give the Pilots a tie or the lead with 12 ticks on the clock. The junior guard hit one of two, evening the score at 55-55, and Weber State called a timeout to set-up a potential final play.
 
And that play worked to perfection as Okoye drove into the paint and scored from point-blank range. The Pilots then called timeout with only three seconds left, and Portland couldn't get a shot off as the clock expired.
 
Both Gray, a sophomore, and freshman Ellie Woerner finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds to lead the Pilots. Van Loo just missed double digits with nine points.
 
The Pilots out-shot the Wildcats 44.7 percent to 41.2 percent, but Weber State made one more three-pointer and one more free throw, which proved to be the difference. Both teams had 29 rebounds.
 
Portland jumped out to an early lead with the help of traditional three-point plays from both Darian Slaga and Gray, which made it a 14-7 game 3:47 in. The Pilots led by four after the first quarter, but the Wildcats responded by surging ahead in the second period. Woerner then ripped down the offensive rebound and was fouled on the put-back for a chance at a three-point play with 5:37 left in the half. She'd convert it, tying the score and sparking a 10-0 run to help the Pilots take a 29-26 lead into the break.
 
Weber State took control early in the third quarter, jumping ahead by six points, but the Pilots had an answer in the form of a 9-0 spurt to reclaim a three-point lead. Corissa Turley registered a three-point play during the outburst, Sara Zaragoza had a nice put-back and Van Loo knocked down a pull-up jumper from the elbow. The Wildcats though refused to falter, and the two teams entered the final frame tied 40-40.
 
Gray matches a career-high in points, as does Woerner in rebounds. Woerner also hits double digits in points for the fourth time this year, and it's the Sammamish, Wash., native's fourth game to lead the team in scoring.
 
Okoye led the Wildcats with a game-high 21 points.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a visit by the UC Davis Aggies on Sunday. Tip-off at the Chiles Center is set for 2 p.m.