PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland senior Darian Slaga scored her 1,000th career point and the Pilots nearly came all the way back from a second-half deficit, but the Pacific Tigers held on for a 76-66 win in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. With 22 points, Slaga becomes the 25th player in Portland program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
 
Most of Slaga's damage came in the second half after the Pilots (8-6, 0-3 WCC) had fallen behind by 21 points with 2:13 remaining in the third. That's when Portland embarked on a lengthy run that would stretch into the fourth and the pull the Pilots within striking distance.
 
Early in the final period, Kate Andersen and Slaga buried back-to-back three-pointers to make it a 10-point game. Slaga would then drill another three moments later, and just like that the deficit was down to just seven.
 
After a Pacific lay-up, Maddie Muhlheim hit a three to make the score 65-59 with 3:25 remaining. The margin was still six points after a pair of free throws from Haylee Andrews with 1:32 showing on the clock, but the Tigers (9-3, 2-0 WCC) would recover after Portland's epic 21-6 and hold on for the win.
 
Slaga hit a career-high six three-pointers, and she finished the night with 1,012 career points.
 
Julie Spencer added 11 points for the Pilots, and Jayce Gorzeman provided a career-best 11 points off the bench.
 
Both Brooklyn McDavid (17 points, 12 rebounds) and Valerie Higgins (16 points, 12 rebounds) registered a double-double for Pacific, and Ameela Li was their top scorer with 21 points.
 
Pacific owned a 50-39 edge on the glass, while the Tigers shot 41 percent to Portland's 32 percent. The Pilots combined for 11 three-pointers, and Portland was 11-for-12 from the free throw line. The Pilots entered the night ranked 21st in the nation in free throw accuracy.
 
The Tigers jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, but the Pilots did well to answer and ended the frame within 10. Andrews connected on a three-point play during the quick surge. Pacific repeatedly tried to pull away in the second quarter, but the Pilots continually answered, and a three by Slaga late in the half cut the margin to 41-32. The Tigers would take an 11-point lead into the break before extending their advantage in the second half.
 
The Pilots next host Saint Mary's on Saturday in a WCC contest at the Chiles Center. Tip-off with the Gaels is set for 2 p.m.