PORTLAND, Ore. --- After a close game through three quarters, the UC Irvine Anteaters created some separation in the fourth before holding on for an 84-69 win over the Portland Pilots in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Sunday afternoon at the Chiles Center. Senior Julie Spencer and freshman Haylee Andrews both had solid games for the Pilots.
 
Spencer scored 19 points and eight rebounds, while Andrews flirted with triple-double territory, registering 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Andrews was five of seven shooting overall, hit two of three from beyond the arc, and was a percent 5-for-5 at the free throw line.
 
Andrews scored the first basket of the game with a nice lay-up down the lane, but the Anteaters responded with 10 unanswered points to surge ahead. The Pilots then embarked on a run of their own as three-pointers from Spencer and Maddie Muhlheim leveled the score. From there the two teams exchanged buckets before the Pilots claimed a slim 19-18 edge after the first quarter.
 
Andrews opened the second period with a three-pointer on a pass from Darian Slaga to help the Pilots maintain their lead. Slaga then provided a couple of lay-ins as the game remained close, but the Anteaters were able to create some separation late in the half. A pair of fast break lay-ups by Liana Kaitu'u and Jose Matz kept the Pilots within reach, and minutes later Kaitu'u drew a charge at one end and converted down low at the other end as the Anteaters where ahead by one at the break.
 
UC Irvine began the third quarter with a scoring binge as they went ahead 46-38. The Pilots answered with a left-handed scoop shot from Kaitu'u, and Andrews hit a tough lay-up while getting fouled moments later. She'd hit the ensuing free throw to cut the deficit down to three. The Anteaters again tried to pull away after that, and the Pilots again responded. This time it was clutch three's from Muhlheim and Andrews, but UC Irvine still took a 58-51 lead into the final frame.
 
The Anteaters increased their advantage in the fourth by continuing to pressure the Pilots and knock down shots from inside and outside. A three-pointer by Lauren Saiki pushed their lead to 12 points, and she followed that with a jumper to make it a 74-59 game with 4:59 remaining. A three from Matz ended a lengthy scoring drought for the Pilots, and Slaga buried a corner three to cut the deficit to single digits with 2:05 showing on the clock. But the Anteaters got a three-pointer from Andee Ritter and a traditional three-point play by Jordan Sanders to seal the win.
 
Sanders shot 13-for-18 from the floor to score a game-high 29 points. Ritter added 20 points, and Saiki chipped in with 19.
 
Both teams were decent from the field as the Anteaters (8-1) hit nearly 50 percent of their shots, while the Pilots (7-3) countered with 45 percent shooting. The Anteaters pressured the Pilots all game long to force 22 turnovers, which led to 36 points off those miscues.
 
The Pilots next conclude the non-conference portion of their schedule when they host the Air Force Falcons on Tuesday night. Tip-off at the Chiles Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.