PROVO, Utah --- Portland sophomore Julie Spencer scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to help the Pilots hang around for most of the night, but the Brigham Young Cougars pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim a 73-60 win on Thursday night at the Marriott Center. Holly Blades buried six three-pointers for the Pilots.
 
The game was close throughout as the Pilots (6-22, 4-13 WCC) refused to go away and led 14-13 after the first quarter. Blades drained her first three of the night mid-way through the first to give the Pilots a lead, and Spencer followed with a jumper moments later to push the Portland lead to three. BYU would hit the last field goal of the period to make it a one-point game.
 
The Cougars (18-10, 12-5 WCC) tried to pull away in the second, but the Pilots responded. Down five, Portland scored seven straight to surge ahead. Spencer sparked the run with a lay-up, and capped it with a mid-range jumper to make it 21-19 in the visitors' favor. BYU would tie it, but Blades found the bottom of the net with a three to hand the lead back to the Pilots. That was followed by a run by the Cougars, who took a slim 34-29 edge at the half.
 
The second half began with BYU pushing their lead to eight, but again the Pilots responded, this time with a quick 6-0 run. The outburst was fueled by three's from Blades and Kate Andersen, and it made it a two-point game. The Pilots were still within a pair minutes later when Spencer connected again from the field, and the two teams were never separated by more than seven points during the rest of the third stanza.
 
A four-point game after three periods turned into an 11-point deficit for the Pilots in the fourth quarter as the Cougars were finally able to create some separation. The Pilots though never did let the game get too out of reach, but the Cougars held on for the 13-point win.
 
Spencer easily surpasses her previous career high of 15 points, which came earlier this season against Saint Mary's. Spencer's 14 boards also give the forward her fourth double-double of the year. Blades finishes with six three-pointers in a game for the second time this season, and it falls just short of the school record of seven, which she accomplished against Alaska-Anchorage on Nov. 22.
 
Makenzi Pulsipher led BYU with 20 points, while Kalani Purcell registered a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Pilots out-shot the Cougars 41 percent to 38 percent, and Portland made 10 three-pointers to BYU's seven. But the game was won at the free throw line where BYU shot 18 of 20, and the Pilots connected on six of their eight attempts.
 
The Pilots next return home to conclude the regular season on Saturday against the San Diego Toreros at the Chiles Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., and the Pilots will honor their four seniors, Blades, Hannah Mattson, Corissa Turley and Kaylie Van Loo, with a pre-game ceremony.