SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Rachelle Owens scored a career-best 14 points and the Pilots led the Dons by 11 in the third quarter, but San Francisco caught fire from the field to overcome Portland 84-75 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Gym. Portland featured a balanced offensive attack as Owens was one of four players to score in double figures.
 
And it was that offense that allowed the Pilots to surge ahead in the third quarter. The Pilots lead by three at the half, but the Dons quickly leveled the score a few minutes in to the third. Moments later Kate Andersen drilled a three-pointer to spark a 12-3 outburst by the Pilots. Maddie Muhlheim added a three, and Josie Matz capped the Portland run which left the Pilots leading 54-43 with 4:13 remaining in the period.
 
The Dons responded with a 13-2 run, giving the lead back to the home team. A four-point edge for the Dons grew to eight in the fourth, but the Pilots refused to falter as they rattled off six straight points. Owens provided a lay-up that made it a 70-68 game with 6:31 remaining, and the deficit was still two points a few seconds later after another Owens' lay-in.
 
But the Dons made enough shots, both from the floor and the free throw line, during the final minutes to hold on for the win.
 
Owens hit seven of her 12 shots and she handed out five assists. Julie Spencer matched Owens with 14 points, and Spencer was the team's top rebounder with eight boards to help the Pilots claim a slight 37-36 advantage on the glass.
 
Lisa-Marie Kaempf scored 13 points off the bench for the Pilots (4-9, 0-2 WCC), while Darian Slaga added 10. Portland hovered around 50 percent shooting for most of the game before settling at 44.3 percent. The Pilots also combined for seven three-pointers and went six of 10 at the foul line.
 
USF (6-7, 1-1 WCC) shot 50 percent overall, connected on 11 three's, and was 15-for-22 on free throws. The Dons' Anna Seilund led all scorers with 36 points.
 
Owens had the hot hand early for the Pilots as she hit a couple of jumpers during the opening minutes to hand a 7-4 lead to Portland. Moments later the lead was still four when Slaga connected on her first field goal, and Muhlheim followed with a jumper from the free throw line to keep the advantage with the Pilots. USF would end the period with a quick 10-4 run though to jump in front.
 
Trailing at the opening of the second quarter, a pair of Owens' jumpers and a three-pointer from Kaempf fueled a 7-0 Portland run, which pushed the visitors ahead. Spencer then added a three and Kaempf ended the half with a lay-up, allowing the Pilots to take a 36-33 lead into the break. Owens, Slaga, and Spencer each had eight first-half points, while Kaempf scored seven.
 
Next week the Pilots head back to California, this time venturing south to face the San Diego Toreros in San Diego on Thursday, Jan. 4. Tip-off for the pair of WCC schools is set for 6 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.