PORTLAND, Ore. --- After a making a lengthy run to climb back into the game, the Pilots had a chance to tie the score or take the lead in the closing seconds, but the Pacific Tigers held on to escape the Chiles Center with a thrilling 80-78 win over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night. The loss was the third straight to come in the closing seconds for the Pilots, who have lost by a combined 10 points in those contests.
 
With the Pilots (4-22, 2-13 WCC) trailing by two points and the clock quickly approaching 00:00, Hannah Mattson had a decent look at three-pointer from the corner, but her shot was a little short. The Pilots then caught a break as Mattson's shot went out of bounds off of Pacific with 0.4 showing on the clock, giving Portland one last chance.
 
But on the ensuing in-bounds pass, Cassandra Brown's contested jumper, which appeared to come just after the final buzzer, was off the mark sealing the win for the Tigers (19-7, 11-4 WCC).
 
Portland's Jasmine Wooton finished with a game-high 18 points, while Kari Luttinen added 17. Brown chipped in with 14 points and seven boards.
 
Kendall Kenyon and Hallie Eackles each had 15 points to lead five Tigers in double figures.
 
After 11 early points by Wooton helped Portland hang around to begin the game, the Pilots found themselves trailing 36-20 with 3:34 left in the first half. But the Pilots finished the half strong, scoring the final six points and making it a 36-26 game at the break.
 
Portland's run would continue after the half and soon the Pilots had cut the deficit to just two points after a lay-up by Brown. Moments later the score was tied when Kari Luttinen made a steal at one end and went all the way at the other for a fast break lay-up.
 
Freshman Sara Zaragoza then converted on a post move down low and that had Portland enjoying its first lead of the game. The Tigers recovered briefly to stifle the run, but the Pilots were unfazed and jumped back in front courtesy a three by Mattson.
 
Luttinen then helped push the lead to 55-59 with a three-pointer and a traditional three-point play with 11:25 remaining. Luttinen's six straight points capped a 36-13 run that stretched back into the first half.
 
Minutes later the Portland lead was still five points when Pacific's Erin Butler sparked a 15-5 run that allowed the Tigers to surge back in front. And with 1:59 left, a Butler jumper kept the Pacific lead at five points, seemingly putting the Pilots away.
 
But as had been the case all night, the Pilots responded. Wooton made a nice lay-up down the lane and Kaylie Van Loo knocked down a pair of clutch free throws, and just like that Portland was within one with 54 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Kenyon pushed the margin back to three points with a lay-up, but at the other Wooton hit a couple more from the line to again make it a one-point game with 22 seconds left to play. Portland was then forced to foul, but Butler made only one of two setting up the Pilots' final possession.
 
The Pilots out-scored Pacific 52-44 in the second half and Portland out-shot Pacific 48.2 percent to 43.9 percent. The Pilots surprisingly made only two three-pointers, but they did go 22 of 29 at the foul line. The Tigers were not afraid to launch from deep, connecting on 10 of 25 from beyond the three-point arc. Pacific was 12-for-19 on free throws.
 
The Pilots dominated the paint, claiming a 41-32 edge on rebounds and a 46-30 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Portland will next play the final home game of the season on Saturday night when the Saint Mary's Gaels visit for a 7 p.m. contest. The Pilots will honor their five seniors, Brown, Luttinen, Colleen Olinger, Thomson and Wooton with a pre-game ceremony.