PORTLAND, Ore. --- Rachelle Owens had 14 points, Kate Andersen added 13, and the Pilots were within four of San Francisco early in the fourth quarter, but the Dons used a lengthy run to pull away and claim a 76-63 win over Portland on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Julie Spencer led the way on the glass for the Pilots with 11 boards.
 
In that fourth quarter, Darian Slaga hit a lay-up that pulled the Pilots (5-19, 1-12 WCC) within 58-54, but that's when the Dons (12-12, 7-6 WCC) went on a run to take control of the game. They held Portland without a point for seven minutes as they stretched their lead to 74-54 before settling for the 13-point win.  

The Dons opened the game with a barrage of three-pointers as their first four field goals were all from behind the arc. The Pilots were able to stay close as Maddie Muhlheim had a solid quarter, first converting a lay-up while getting fouled, which was followed by a deep three-pointer. The Dons would then push their lead to nine points as Kalyn Simon beat the buzzer with a three that made it 26-17. 

Owens, who assisted on both of those Muhlheim field goals in the first period, took over the scoring in the second as she connected on a lay-up before burying her patented mid-range jumper. Moments later Ashley Gray followed her own miss to collect the offensive rebound, and she'd get fouled on the put-back for a traditional three-point play to cut the deficit to 38-32. The Dons then took a 42-34 edge into the locker room at the break, despite 10 first-half points from Owens. 

The Dons jumped ahead by 15 points in the third, but the Pilots were soon within six points as Andersen hit a baseline jumper and Spencer connected on a pair of free throws. The Pilots then forced a San Francisco turnover which led to an Owens' lay-in at the other end to make it a 54-51 game. 
During that stretch the Pilots held the Dons to just 1-for-11 shooting, but USF still led 56-52 going to the final frame.
 
Owens finished seven of 12 from the floor, and she had six rebounds and four assists.
 
Muhlheim had Portland's only two three's on the night as the Pilots shot 40 percent overall and hit 17 of 24 at the free throw line.
 
USF combined to shoot only 38 percent, but they hit nine three-pointers and were 17-for-18 on foul shots. The Dons only had nine turnovers and out-rebounded Portland 40-36.
 
Four Dons scored in double figures, led by Michael Rakova with 19 points. Rakova was a perfect 10-for-10 on free throws and corralled 12 boards for the double-double. 
 
Next up for the Pilots is a visit from the Pacific Tigers on Saturday afternoon, with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. at the Chiles Center.