LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Portland senior Julie Spencer registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but the Loyola Marymount Lions pulled away from the Pilots late in the fourth quarter en route to a 76-58 win in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Monday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion. It's the fourth double-double for Spencer this season.
 
The first half was close as neither team was able to gain much of advantage. LMU (8-6, 1-1 WCC) tried to pull away from the Pilots (8-5, 0-2 WCC), but a three-pointer from Josie Matz mid-way through the opening frame kept Portland within reach. Darian Slaga later made it a two-point game with a lay-up, and the deficit was still only two after Spencer buried a three late in the quarter.
 
LMU maintained their lead, and in the second period they'd stretch their advantage to nine points. The Pilots didn't falter, and a three-pointer from Maddie Muhlheim had the visitors within five with five minutes left in the half. Spencer kept it a five-point game with a put-back after an offensive rebound, and the Lions took a slight 32-26 edge into the locker room at the break.
 
LMU's lead was down to just four points after Muhlheim drilled another three deep into the third quarter, but the Lions responded with an 18-3 run that would stretch into the final period.
 
The Pilots were down 19 after the outburst, but Portland responded with a 10-1 run of their own that cut the deficit down to 10. Spencer connected on two three-pointers during the surge, Matz also hit one from beyond the arc, and Haylee Andrews added a lay-up and a jumper. But that's as close as the Pilots would get as the Lions recovered to seal the home win.
 
LMU shot just 37 percent for the game, but they out-scored the Pilots 16-6 at the foul line. Chelsey Gipson led four Lions to score in double digits, finishing with a game-high 19 points.
 
Andrews added 11 points to also reach double figures for the Pilots.
 
Next for the Pilots is a trip home to host Pacific at the Chiles Center in a WCC game on Thursday night. Tip-off with the Tigers is set for 7 p.m.