MORAGA, Calif. --- Portland's Darian Slaga led the Pilots with 13 points, but the Saint Mary's Gaels jumped ahead early before claiming a 77-49 win in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at McKeon Pavilion. The win gives the Gaels a season split with the Pilots, who defeated Saint Mary's earlier this year in Portland.
 
The Pilots hung around during the first quarter, despite the Gaels scoring the game's first six points. Slaga buried one from deep, and Ashley Gray and Rachelle Owens both hit lay-ups to help pull the Pilots within one. But that's when the Gaels embarked on a 15-2 quarter-ending run to surge ahead by double digits.
 
Owens converted on a lay-in to open the second period, and Julie Spencer and Slaga allowed the Pilots to remain within reach with a jumper and free throws, but the Gaels did lead by 17 at the half.
 
The Saint Mary's lead would grow in the third quarter, and they'd seal the win in the fourth.
 
Gray finished with nine points off the Portland (6-21, 2-14 WCC) bench, and Spencer just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
 
The Pilots shot 32 percent from the field, combined for three three-pointers, and went 10 of 16 at the line. The Gaels, who claimed a sizable 48-28 edge on the glass, shot 46 percent on the afternoon, hit four three's and were 21-for-28 on free throws.
 
Stella Beck scored a game-high 25 points for the Gaels (19-9, 11-5 WCC), while Megan McKay collected 12 boards to go along with 18 points.
 
The Pilots next play their final road game when they travel to Provo, Utah, for a WCC match-up with BYU on Thursday night. Tip-off at the Marriott Center is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific).
 
Following the trip to Provo is Portland's regular season finale, which is scheduled for Feb. 24 against Pepperdine at the Chiles Center. The Pilots will honor their three seniors with a pre-game ceremony.