PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland freshman Josie Matz scored 14 points off the bench, Darian Slaga added 14 points, and Ashley Gray converted a put-back in the closing minute as the Pilots edged the Western Oregon Wolves 73-72 in an exhibition game played on Saturday night at the Chiles Center.
 
After trailing at the half, the Pilots made a run in the third quarter to surge in front. Matz converted a tradition three-point play after getting fouled on a lay-up, and Julie Spencer followed with a put-back on an offensive rebound to pull the Pilots within three points with 2:29 remaining in the third.
 
The Wolves then pushed their lead back to seven points, but Portland responded by scoring eight straight. Both Matz and fellow freshman Maddie Muhlheim buried three-pointers during the run as the Pilots jumped ahead 53-52. Western Oregon did convert a pair of free throws to take a one-point lead into the final frame.
 
Neither team was able to create much separation early in the fourth, but with just under four minutes left to play Lisa-Marie Kaempf drained a three to spark a Portland run. Matz would add a free throw and Slaga finished with a lay-up to hand the Pilots a 70-64 lead with 1:40 showing on the clock.
 
But late three's by Western Oregon's Sydney Azorr and Maddy Pape, in addition to a Pilots' turnover, gave the Wolves the one-point lead with 38 seconds remaining. At the other end of the court Ashley Gray came through with a huge offensive rebound and a put-back to give the lead back to Portland, and the Pilots' defense held strong on the ensuing WOU possession as they came out on top.
 
The Pilots shot 40 percent on the night, which included eight three-pointers. Portland also connected on 22 free throws. The Wolves shot 38.2 percent from the field, hit seven three's and went 13 of 17 at the charity stripe.
 
Portland's Kate Andersen hit three from beyond the three-point arc en route to 10 points, and Gray pulled down 12 boards to go along with nine points. Spencer also just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds to help the Pilots claim a 44-31 advantage on the glass.
 
The Pilots next open the regular season at home on Friday night when they host Hawai'i at 7 p.m.