PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Julie Spencer registered a double-double and Darian Slaga scored 15 points in her return from an injury, but the Portland State Vikings held off the Pilots to claim a 77-71 win on Tuesday night at the Chiles Center. Spencer collected 14 points and 10 boards for her second double-double this season.
 
The Vikings (3-4) jumped out to an early lead, but the Pilots (3-3) recovered to fight back and surge ahead. Slaga, who hasn't played for the Pilots since the first game of the season, came off the bench to hit two three-pointers, which fueled a 13-3 Portland run and gave the home team a one-point lead.
 
The second quarter was evenly played as Slaga continued to knock down shots, and Spencer approached her double-double. Three times the Pilots were able to claim a three-point lead, with the help of lay-ups from Ashley Gray and Sara Zaragoza, and another three-pointer from Slaga, who had 13 points by the end of the half.
 
The Vikings refused to go away, and they reclaimed an eight-point lead before taking a 44-38 advantage into the locker room at the break.
 
Portland State's lead would grow to 10 points in the third before the Pilots made another run, which was sparked by Portland's bench. Lisa Kaempf converted a lay-up before burying a three-pointer, and Josie Matz had a three-point play opportunity when she made a tough, left-handed lay-up while getting fouled, which pulled the Pilots within four.
 
The deficit was down to just two points early in the final frame before the Vikings created some separation as Sidney Rielly, who leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring, got her offense going. The Pilots used a jumper from Kate Andersen and free throws by Gray to remain within reach of the Vikings, but Portland State executed down the stretch to prevail.
 
Kaempf finished with 10 points, as did Matz and Gray to help the Portland bench out-score their counterparts 45-12. Spencer was the only Portland starter to reach double-digits in points as she notched the sixth double-double of her career.
 
Rielly led five Vikings in double-figures with 18 points, and Pia Jurhar grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench.
 
The Pilots shot just 31.3 percent on the night, hit five three-pointers, and went 16 of 24 at the line. Portland did make more field goals than the Vikings, who shot 45.1 percent overall, but Portland State used eight three-pointers and 23 free throws to claim the victory.
 
Portland forced the Vikings into 23 turnovers, while turning the ball over just 13 times, and both teams finished with 44 rebounds, 24 of which came on the offensive end for the Pilots.
 
Portland next travels north to face the Washington Huskies at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in Seattle.