PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots jumped ahead early and never looked back en route to an 82-27 win over the Willamette Bearcats on Sunday afternoon at the Chiles Center. With the win, the Pilots improve to 7-2 overall, which is their best start to a season since 1997-98.
 
Portland featured balanced scoring as Darian Slaga led five Pilots in double digits with 14 points. Slaga, a senior guard, has reached double figures in points all nine games this year.
 
Freshman Haylee Andrews finished with 13 points, while senior forward Julie Spencer added 10. Andrews was a perfect three-for-three from beyond the three-point arc.
 
Senior Lisa Kaempf had perhaps her best game of the season, scoring 11 points off the bench, and sophomore Jayce Gorzeman hit double digits for the second straight game, chipping in with 10 points.
 
The Pilots shot 50 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Bearcats 56-20, with junior guard Kate Andersen leading the way with a season-best nine boards.
 
The Pilots were connecting from deep early as three-pointers from Spencer and Andrews allowed the home team to surge in front during the opening quarter. Andrews continued the barrage of three's when she knocked down a triple from the corner that handed the Pilots a 20-8 lead.
 
The Bearcats endured a seven-minute scoring drought that would stretch into the second quarter as the Pilots extended their advantage to 20 points. Slaga had a pair of lay-ups, and Spencer and Andrews both converted down low to help the Portland offense continue the onslaught. Midway through the period the Pilots embarked on a lengthy 21-0 run, which was helped by lay-ups from Kaempf and Gorzeman, with both coming after offensive rebounds.
 
The Pilots held the Bearcats to just four points in the quarter and took a sizable 47-12 lead into the half.
 
Portland extended their lead in the second half and were soon in front 59-16 after Slaga made a steal at one end and a break-away lay-up at the other. Moments later sophomore Maddie Muhlheim hit a lay-in while getting fouled, and she'd connect on the ensuing free throw for the traditional three-point play.
 
The Pilot bench then took over in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
 
 The Pilots next take a break for final exams before returning to the court to host the UC Irvine Anteaters next Sunday at the Chiles Center. Tip-off for the nonconference contest is set for 2 p.m.