SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots made a late run to climb back into the game in the closing minutes, but the San Diego Toreros would hold on to win the regular season finale 80-72 on Saturday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Pilots will next head to Las Vegas, Nev., for the 2014-15 West Coast Conference Championships, which begin on Thursday.
 
The Toreros (23-5, 14-4 WCC) held a comfortable lead for most of the afternoon before the Pilots (4-25, 2-16 WCC) came storming back. Trailing by 18 early in the second half, Cassandra Brown hit a three-pointer to spark a 16-7 run. Five different Pilots scored during the surge, which was capped by another Brown three that pulled Portland within 50-41 with 13:38 remaining.
 
San Diego recovered to push the lead back to 16 points, but again the Pilots had an answer. This time it was a run that cut the deficit to just six points with 1:33 left to play. Brown again hit a big three-pointer and Kaylie Van Loo knocked down a jumper to make it a 69-63 game.
 
The Toreros responded, but the deficit was still just six moments later when Cassandra Thompson hit a clutch three, which made the score 76-70 with 34 seconds showing on the clock.
 
The Pilots then forced a key turnover on the ensuing possession, but Portland gave the ball right back to the Toreros, who made enough free throws down the stretch to escape with the win.
 
Portland shot an impressive 52.0 percent (26-for-50) from the field and was led by 17 points from Jasmine Wooton, who was one of four Pilots to score in double figures. Kari Luttinen had 16 points and Brown and Thompson each finished with 15.
 
Both teams made 26 field goals, but San Diego made three more three-pointers and five more free throws. Malina Hood scored a game-high 26 points, while Katelyn McDaniel registered a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.
 
The Pilots will enter the WCC Tournament as the number 10 seed and will face seventh-seeded Santa Clara on Thursday at the Orleans Arena.