LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Portland's Holly Blades scored 13 points and Kaylie Van Loo had 10 points and eight assists, but the Loyola Marymount Lions took control in the second quarter before claiming a 69-54 win over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion. LMU out-scored the Pilots 17-7 in that second quarter, but only held a five-point edge in the other three quarters combined.
 
It's the second straight game to lead the Pilots (3-14, 1-5 WCC) in scoring for Blades, who buried six three-pointers en route to 20 points at Saint Mary's on Thursday night. The senior guard knocked down three from behind the arc on Saturday, and she ranks third in the WCC in three-pointers for the season.
 
Van Loo leads the conference in assists, and the senior point guard is averaging an impressive 7.5 dimes against WCC opponents. She's handed out a career-best nine assists three times this season.
 
Jackie Johnson led three Lions (7-10, 2-4 WCC) in double digits with a game-high 14 points, while adding 12 rebounds to register a double-double.
 
The first quarter was close as the Pilots remained within reach of their hosts. Julie Spencer had a couple of early buckets, with the second tying the score 8-8. LMU then tried to pull away, but Darian Slaga helped keep it close with a traditional three-point play with 3:21 remaining in the frame. And then just before the end of the quarter, Ashley Gray handed the lead back to the Pilots with a three-point play of her own.
 
The Lions would respond by surging back ahead, and their edge would swell to double digits in the second period with a lengthy 23-6 run. LMU then did enough in the second half to hold onto their lead and preserve the win.
 
LMU had 27 field goals to Portland's 19, and the Lions out-shot the Pilots 43.5 percent to 34.5 percent. The home team also had one more three-pointer than the Pilots, and posted a 45-30 advantage on the glass. Portland was 12 of 17 on free throws, while LMU was 10-for-13.
 
Slaga also reached double figures with 11 points.
 
The Pilots now return home for a pair of WCC games next week at the Chiles Center, beginning with a visit from the San Francisco Dons on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.