PORTLAND, Ore. --- Darian Slaga scored 19 points and the Pilots hung around for most of the night, but the San Diego Toreros held off Portland in the second half to claim a 75-60 win on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Slaga has scored in double digits in 10 of her 14 games played this season.
 
The Toreros (11-7, 4-3 WCC) tried to put away the Pilots (4-14-, 0-7 WCC) early with some hot shooting as the visitors hit their first six shots of the night to open a 12-point lead. The Pilots responded, and a quick 7-0 run helped cut the deficit to five points. Ashley Gray beat the buzzer with a lay-up at the end of the first quarter, and Slaga buried a three-pointer to open the second to pull the Pilots within 23-18.
 
San Diego repeatedly tried to put some space between them and the Pilots, but the home team continued to respond. Down 34-20, Portland scored six unanswered points to again climb within reach. The 6-0 spurt was capped with a baseline lay-in by Kate Andersen, which was set up by a nice feed from Rachelle Owens. The Toreros then pushed the lead back to double digits and they led 39-28 at the break.
 
It was more of the same third quarter as the Pilots refused to falter. Portland scored the first seven points coming out of the half, which was sparked by another three-pointer from Slaga. Owens and Julie Spencer followed with lay-ups, and just like that it was a four-point game. The margin was still only five points moments later with Owens hit another one down low, but soon the Toreros re-claimed a double-digit edge.
 
The San Diego lead would grow to 19 points in the final frame as the Toreros finished off the win.
 
Andersen added 10 points and Owens handed out five assists for the Pilots, who out-rebounded the Toreros 33-29. Portland has won the battle of the boards 12 times this season, and they were led Thursday night by Spencer's six rebounds.
 
Aubrey Ward-El led three Toreros in double figures with a game-high 21 points.
 
Portland finished with more field goals (23-21) than San Diego, but the Toreros held a lopsided 27-12 advantage in free throws. San Diego shot 48 percent overall and hit six three's, while the Pilots combined to shoot 40 percent. Slaga had Portland's only two makes from beyond the arc.
 
The Pilots next remain at home to host the Loyola Marymount Lions on Saturday at 2 p.m.