PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Julie Spencer recorded career highs in both points and rebounds en route to a double-double, and the Pilots built a big lead over the Portland State Vikings before claiming a 79-68 win in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Wednesday night at the Chiles Center. Kaylie Van Loo added 15 points for the Pilots, and she matched a career-high with nine assists to just miss a double-double.
 
Spencer, who has been stellar to begin her sophomore campaign, scored 14 points, while grabbing 12 boards. Five of her rebounds came on the offensive glass as the Pilots scored a decisive 20 second-chance points. Portland (2-5) also outrebounded their crosstown rival 44-35.
 
Ashley Gray chipped in with 13 points, while Darian Slaga poured in 18 points off the bench. Gray also corralled eight boards for the fourth straight game, and Slaga follows her 24-point outing on Sunday with another solid night offensively.
 
The first quarter was close until the Pilots ended the frame by scoring 10 unanswered points. Van Loo scored the first four points of the outburst, while Gray capped it with a lay-up, giving the hosts a 20-10 lead. Portland's run would extend into the second quarter as the Pilots stretched it to 18-0. Slaga opened the period by draining a three, while Jojuan Carrington helped with a lay-up as the Pilots extended their advantage to 28-10.
 
The lead would swell to 39-16 before the Vikings ended the half with a run of their own. Portland State continued their momentum into the third, and soon the once 23-point deficit was down to just nine.
 
Portland recovered to score 28 points in the third, which is a season-high in a quarter this season. Hannah Mattson drained a pair of key three-pointers, and Slaga added a three of her own as the Pilots went back ahead by 23 points.
 
The lead was still 22 after a Spencer jumper early in the fourth, but the Vikings still had one more run left in them. Ashley Bolston tried to spark the rally, but the clock would soon run out as the Pilots won their fourth straight over Portland State. Slaga hit a clutch jumper with two minutes left to push the Portland lead back to double digits after PSU had climbed within eight.
 
The Pilots shot 45 percent on the night, connected on six three-pointers, and went 15-for-23 on free throws. Portland State (2-3) shot 38.3 percent from the floor, hit just three from beyond the three-point arc, and was 19 of 27 from the line, with a chunk of those free throws coming in the fourth as they attempted to make a comeback.
 
Bolston led all scorers with 26 points, and Cici West had 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a road trip to Ogden, Utah, for a game against Weber State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (Pacific).