PORTLAND, Ore. --- Julie Spencer scored a game-high 23 points to lead six Pilots in double figures and Portland pulled away from the Pacific Tigers in the second half to prevail 89-67 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center. The Pilots featured a balanced offense and played stifling defense en route to the win.
 
Spencer was 11 of 16 from the floor as Portland (6-19, 2-12 WCC) shot better than 50 percent, while holding the Tigers (12-13, 6-8) to just 33.3 percent shooting. Joining Spencer in double digits were Ashley Gray, who netted a career-best 17 points, Maddie Muhlheim (13), Rachelle Owens (11), Darian Slaga (11), and Sara Zaragoza (10).
 
Gray was also an impressive 13-for-14 from the free throw line, while Kate Andersen collected career-bests in both rebounds (10) and assists (6). 

The first quarter was evenly played with neither team able to gain much of an advantage until late. Slaga knocked down an early three, and Spencer converted a pair of buckets down low, with the second coming on a nice feed from Slaga. Owens also connected from deep, which at the time handed the home team a 14-12 lead. The three sparked a 12-3 run for the Pilots, which also included three-pointers from Muhlheim and Spencer, and gave Portland a 23-15 edge by the end of period. 

Muhlheim opened the second with another three, this one coming from the corner, and Spencer added a put-back on an offensive rebound that gave the Pilots their biggest lead at 28-15. From there the Tigers cut into the deficit, but the Pilots still led 38-37 at the break, with the help of 11 first-half points from Spencer. 

After the Tigers briefly took the lead early in the third, the Pilots responded in a big way with a 10-0 run. Zaragoza had a couple of lay-ups during the out-burst, and Andersen hit a step-back, baseline jumper that helped make it a 50-41 game in Portland's favor. Spencer then hit three consecutive buckets and Andersen banked one in on a nice turn-around that allowed the Pilots to take a 17-point lead, their biggest advantage of the day. Portland's lead was 65-50 going to the final frame. 

Muhlheim hit a clutch three to begin the fourth, and moments later Spencer found Zaragoza down low for an uncontested lay-in that pushed the margin to 73-55 with about seven minutes left to play. The lead would only swell from there for the Pilots. 

For Spencer it's the third time this season to score 20 or more points, and she just missed matching a career-high. Muhlheim was four of five from beyond the three-point arc as Portland combined for seven three's as team.
 
Ameela Li led the Tigers with 18 points.
 
Next week the Pilots travel to the Bay Area for a pair of WCC games. First the Pilots will be in Santa Clara to face the Broncos on Thursday night, with tip-off at the Leavey Center set for 7 p.m. Saturday brings a contest with the Saint Mary's Gaels in Moraga.