OREM, Utah --- Portland's Darian Slaga and Haylee Andrews both scored 19 points and Julie Spencer collected a double-double as the Pilots won their season opener 65-60 over the Utah Valley Wolverines on Saturday afternoon at Lockhart Arena. Andrews is a freshman making her collegiate debut, and Spencer finished with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
It was all Portland (1-0) early on as the Pilots jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter after Slaga knocked down a three, her first of four from beyond the arc on the night. The lead would grow, and when Spencer hit one from deep, the Pilots were on top 19-6 with just under two minutes left in the period.
 
Portland continued its run in the second quarter as they scored the first 10 points of the period as the lead swelled to 30-10. Andrews converted a traditional three-point play during the surge, and Slaga claimed another three-pointer as the Pilots found themselves up 20 points.
 
But Utah Valley (2-1) responded, and the Wolverines chipped away at their deficit for the remainder of the half. They cut it down to a six-point game before a lay-up by Andrews helped the Pilots take a 37-28 lead into the break.
 
In the third quarter the Wolverines pulled within one of the Pilots, but Maddie Muhlheim connected on a clutch three-pointer, and Lisa Kaempf followed with a lay-up as the Pilots maintained their edge. Late it in the third, Utah Valley had it down to a two-point game, but the Pilots opened the final quarter with a lay-in by Spencer and another three from Slaga to push their lead back to double digits.
 
Utah Valley refused to go away, but with 3:35 remaining Slaga came through with a key steal, which led to a fast break lay-up at the other end for Andrews to make it 61-52. From there the Wolverines stayed within reach, but a huge offensive rebound by Josie Matz with less than a minute remaining forced Utah Valley into fouling. Andrews then made enough free throws down the stretch to seal the road win for the Pilots.
 
Andrews is a guard in her first year with Portland after coming to The Bluff from Townsville, Australia. She was five of seven from the floor and went 9-for-11 on free throws, while handing out six assists.
 
Slaga, a senior guard, was Portland's leading scorer last season, and Spencer, a senior forward, registers her ninth career double-double. Her efforts on the glass helped the Pilot to a slight 40-38 advantage in rebounds.
 
Sophia Jacobsson led the Wolverines with 13 points.
 
The Pilots next stay in Utah for a non-conference game against Weber State on Monday night in Ogden. Tip-off with the Wildcats is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific).