PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Gonzaga Bulldogs opened a big lead in the first quarter and didn't slow down en route to an 85-50 win over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center. Senior Kaylie Van Loo led the Pilots with 16 points.
 
Gonzaga's (15-4, 6-2 WCC) Jill Barta scored 15 of the Zags' first 17 points as the visitors led by double digits after the first quarter. The Bulldogs' lengthy run continued into the second period and Gonzaga led comfortably at the break, with the help of Barta's 23 first-half points.
 
Van Loo and Darian Slaga tried to spark the Pilots (3-16, 1-7 WCC) offensively in the third quarter, and Slaga scored eight points in the frame. But the deficit was too much as the Bulldogs held on for the win.
 
10 of Van Loo's points came in the second half, and the point guard shot an impressive 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Slaga added 12 points off the bench.
 
Gonzaga stifled the Pilots into 27 percent shooting, and Portland made just one three-pointer, a season-low. Portland was also 21 of 24 at the charity stripe. The Bulldogs shot 47 percent from the floor, connected on 10 three-pointers and went 23 of 29 from the foul line.
 
Barta finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Pilots next conclude their three-game stay at home when they host the Pepperdine Waves on Thursday at the Chiles Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the WCC contest will be shown live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest.