PORTLAND, Ore. --- Kari Luttinen matched a career-high with 25 points and Cassandra Brown corralled 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Santa Clara Broncos used a big second half to claim a 64-55 come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center.
 
Most of Luttinen's points came in the first half to help the Pilots (4-19, 2-10 WCC) take a double-digit lead. She scored 10 points early, which included a three-pointer to make it an 18-8 Portland lead about five minutes in.
 
Moments later the UP lead was still nine points after Sara Zaragoza converted an un-contested lay-up with 10:14 left in the first half. But a lengthy scoring drought followed for the Pilots, which allowed the Broncos (8-14, 3-10 WCC) to pull within 24-20.
 
Luttinen answered with back-to-back buckets, the second being another three-pointer for the senior guard, which pushed Portland's lead to 29-20 with 5:48 left in the first half. The Broncos then cut the deficit down to one before the Pilots scored the half's final five points to lead 34-28 at the break.
 
Brown then opened the second half with a lay-up, but Santa Clara quickly trimmed Portland's lead and eventually led 39-37 with 15:16 left to play. The game would remain close from there until Cassandra Thompson provided a spark, scoring five points to help the Pilots jump back ahead 48-45 at the 10:09 mark.
 
The Broncos responded with five straight points from Nici Gilday and Santa re-claimed the lead. But Luttinen buried a big three to send Portland in front once again, but that was the last lead Portland would enjoy as the Pilots went ice cold from the field.
 
Thompson hit a lay-up to pull UP within two points with 6:02 remaining, but it would be Portland's last field goal the rest of the way as the Pilots suffered through a nearly six minute scoring drought.
 
Santa Clara would then make enough shots and free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Luttinen hit four three-pointers en route to her game-high in points. Thompson added 10 points and Jasmine Wooton had eight points and five assists. Gilday led the Broncos with 23 points, while Marie Bertholdt registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Santa Clara shot 41.0 percent, while Portland countered with just 31.3 percent shooting. The Broncos out-rebounded the Pilots 45-42, despite Brown matching a career best in boards.
 
The Pilots next travel to Southern California for a pair of West Coast Conference games next week. First up is a trip to Malibu to face the Pepperdine Waves on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Firestone Fieldhouse.