SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots were clicking early and jumped out to a lead after the first quarter, but the San Diego Toreros recovered and would go on to claim a 57-40 win on Saturday afternoon in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Kaylie Van Loo scored 12 points to lead the Pilots, while Ashley Gray collected 10 rebounds.
 
10 of Van Loo's points came in the first quarter as the senior point guard hit her first four shots of the game. During one stretch, Van Loo scored six straight points for Portland (4-17, 2-8 WCC), which was followed by a three-pointer from Holly Blades to give the visitors a 15-6 lead. San Diego (10-10, 4-6 WCC) pulled within five at the end of the opening frame, and the Portland lead was still five early in the second after Blades knocked down a jumper.
 
But it was all Toreros after that as the hosts held Portland to a combined 10 points during the second and third quarters. USD opened a sizable lead in the final period before the Pilots tried to mount a late comeback. Darian Slaga cut the deficit down to 14 points in the closing minutes, but time would run out as the Toreros sealed the conference win on their home floor.
 
Sydney Williams led San Diego with a game-high 20 points, while Patricia Brossmann added 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Toreros shot 43.6 percent, made just one three-pointer, went 8-for-9 at the line and held a slight 36-34 edge on the glass.
 
Portland, which shot 53.3 percent during the opening quarter, finished at 33.3 percent for the game, also hit one three-pointer and converted three of six attempts at the charity stripe. Julie Spencer registered eight points and eight rebounds.
 
Next week the Pilots stay on the road to face the Santa Clara Broncos on Thursday night in Santa Clara, Calif. Tip-off at the Leavey Center is set for 7 p.m.